Deviation
Posts: 26905
Joined: 2/6/2006
From: Enemies of Film HQ
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OMG WHAT'S THIS MORE UPDATES NO WAY
Kanal (Andzrej Wajda, 1957, POL)- Quite possibly the most harrowing, brutal, unforgiving, devastating and terrifying war film I've seen since Come and See. Set during the Warsaw Uprising, some of the last remnants of the Polish Resistance, now alone from any other ally they could have ever had and only with a low number of soldiers left, are forced to evade the Nazis by going into the labyrinthine sewers of Warsaw only for all of them to slowly die of starvation, fatigue, hunger and sickness in the shit-filled sewers of Warsaw. The last sentence was not exactly a spoiler btw, the opening narration that introduce our protagonists by mentioning their roles claims it outright, so the whole movie becomes about how our doomed-from-the-start protagonists will die slowly. CHEERY STUFF. Wajda's film in the first half has some problems with the character development, as most characters seem to be lacking a proper personality above what was mentioned at the start. That however changes as the film goes along as they gain more back-story or actions to do to see who they really are, making their demise all the more painful. Wajda basically created one of the scariest, most disturbing horror movies I've ever seen. The horror element is where it is the most effective, the sewers themselves are filmed as if they were a Gothic hell (helped by a very clever allusion made by one of the characters). A harrowing war film with some great performances, perfect direction and cinematography and a very sad story about one of the most tragic events of WW2.
(5/5)
Becket (Peter Glenville, 1964, UK/USA)- It has some dubious historical accuracy but when a movie is so engaging or entertaining, I'll care little for that. Focusing on the relationship between King Henry II and the Archbishop Becket, it is filled with themes of friendship (that are almost on homoerotic levels), ambiguous medieval politics and duty, as the once very close friends become political enemies. Superbly acted, written, directed and always entertaining throughout its two hour and a half-running time.
(5/5)
Cria Cuervos (Carlos Saura, 1976, SPA)- Fantasy and reality mix in Saura's sad take on childhood, as an orphaned girl has to deal with the death of her parents and becomes fascinated with death, to the extent that she wants to murder her aunt. Starring the sweet Ana Torrent (also seen in the equally melancholic Spirit of the Beehive three years earlier) as the lead orphaned child, it's an interesting take on the damned thing we know as childhood with some fantastic performances, fantastic script and direction by Saura and a smashing tune by Jeanette. Porque te vas, todo las promesas de mi amor seran contigo....
Also, apparently the film has some criticism on Franco's regime, damn me if I know what they are.
(5/5)
No Man's Land (Danis Tavonic, 2001, B&H/FRA/ITA/SLO/UK/BEL)- An allegorical tale tale on the Bosnian War that criticizes NATO inability to intervene, the media handling of it, both sides of the conflict (Serbs and Bosnians, though it criticizes the Serbs more) and also calls back a time when both countries where one (well what was left of Yugoslavia). Basically, three men are stuck in a trench in NML, two Bosniaks and a Serb, with one of the Bosniaks lying on a mine. They become a sensation when a reporter finds out about them. It's darkly humorous at times, the characters are interesting and it is tragic. It's also a success and an effective allegory on the Bosnian War, well done Tanovic.
(5/5)
The Bad and the Beautiful (Vincente Minelli, 1952, USA)- Three acclaimed people, an actor, a writer and a director meet an executive and they talk about their friendship and loathe of an ex-friend of theirs, film producer Jonathan Shields. It's all about Douglas (who handles a complex character superbly) and Minelli's direction dominating the screen as the film examines the relationships between these professions in the making of the pivtures while also developing the personal relationships between these four individuals. Brilliant.
(5/5)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Tomas Alfredson, 2011, FRA/UK/GER)- Alfredson is really becoming something special, as he follows his vampiric debut with a fantastic Cold War drama/thriller about a mole in the higher echelons of British Intelligence. OH DEARY ME. Beautifully cinematography that resembles a 70s political thriller, a great script that makes a dense, long plot straightforward to follow, great acting from one of the best ensemble casts in ages (Oldman hasn't been this great in ages, making the cold and methodical Smiley into a sympathetic hero) and SOME TRULY FANTASTIC DIRECTION OHMYGAWD THAT DOLLY SHOT OF HUNGARY WITH THE FIGHTER JETS IS AMAZING
(5/5)
Grizzly Man (Werner Herzog, 2005, USA)- Something of a psychological analysis on Timothy Treadwell, the man who passed 13 years living and protecting grizzly bears and then got eaten, alongside with his girlfriend, by one of them. Something of both an accliam and condemnation on Treadwell's action, Herzog has found here a fascinating individual, like an American Steve Irwin, only much crazier. The irony found in the subject is in itself, quite depressing but their are glimpses of comedy and warmth found in this, and the footage in itself can be quite impressive. That said, Herzog's point of Treadwell's crossing nature's boundaries seem to also override that Treadwell's communication with the bears was also something quite extraordinary but that's only a minor complaint.
(5/5)
Accatone (Pier Paolo Pasolini, 1961, ITA)- The low-life of Rome is also considered something of a spiritual battle in Pasolini's tale about a ruffian and a pimp who is unable to see his child. It's oddly polished for somebody like Pasolini and the acting is surprisingly great and it engages wholly throughout its running time. So yeah, pretty good and more than I expected it to be.
(5/5)
Buddha Collapsed out of Shame (Hana Mackhmalbaf, 2007, IRA/FRA)- Having quite possibly the greatest name in any movie ever, this is a symbolic allegory set close to where once Buddhas of Bayman stood. It is about the domain of the Taliban and their bizarre oppression on the women, all re-enacted by children playing. A girl tries to go to school so that she can learn something but her progress is hindered by her poverty and some boys pretending to be the Taliban. It's great. It's an odd one, sometimes naturalistic and surreal and mixing both to great effect.
(5/5)
The Invisible Man (James Whale, 1932, USA)- Five stars for the clever effects, the entertaining villain, some nice set-pecies and Claude Raines' incredibly hypnotic voice.
(5/5)
The Deluge (Jerzy Hoffman, 1974, POL/RUS)- Big on battles, romance (not as effective as the battles or politics though) and has some very interesting characters such as Kmicic, a man as capable of being brutal and murderous as he is noble, and it is set in quite a fascinating war. The rise of religious intolerance in Poland following the war and the economic fracas not mentioned during all the showcase nationalism. It's also four hours and a half long and it rarely feels them. Shame again the romance isn't as up to standard as the other elements of the film are, still a very entertaining epic with fantastic performances all round.
(4/5)
The Hudsucker Proxy (The Coen Brothers, 1994, USA)- 4/5
War of the Buttons (John Roberts, 1994, UK/FRA/JAP)- 4/5
Rosencratz and Guildenstern are Dead (Tom Stoppard, 1990, UK/USA)- 3/5
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Micheal Bay, 2011, USA)- Sam Witwicky is an annoying cunt, Kim Jeong is an annoying cunt, I don't know when John Turturro started acting as characters who are such annoying cunts, Optimus Prime is a massive cunt who allows genocide to happen for moronic reasons and then go all rampaging on the Decepticons for a genocide HE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN TO PASS A STUPID POINT WHICH HE COULD HAVE EASILY SHOWN BY PREVENTING THE DAMN GENOCIDE AND FIGHTING THE DECEPTICONS THERE and Micheal Bay is a cunt for outright lying about the last hour being a spectacular endless action sequence, which wasn't neither nonstop nor spectacular.
(1/5)
< Message edited by Deviation -- 2/10/2011 11:45:53 PM >
_____________________________
quote:
ORIGINAL: Dpp1978
There are certainly times where calling a person a cunt is not only reasonable, it is a gross understatement.
quote:
ORIGINAL: elab49
I really wish I could go down to see Privates
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