Surf's Up. 10/10
Interesting. I saw this several years ago and thought it was alright, but I never got around to reading Franco's biography like I had intended. But, you know, thanks for the disillusionment...![]()
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"Evening" (2007) - Lajos Koltai
*slight spoilers, but I've tried to be careful*
Man, is it just me, or is Natasha Richardson, like, the hottest woman in the history of human existence?
That aside, this movie is...decent. It basically concerns a woman lying on her deathbed rememberin' stuff - remembering rather selectively and, I think, doctoring it up not a little (I mean, really, have there ever existed such a green lawn, such a blue sea, and such an outrageously white house all in the same square mile?) - about her early adulthood around the wedding of her super-rich college friend, and more specifically concerning a dude falling in love with her and her falling in love with a different dude who her friend also happens to be in love with (in spite of the fact that she is marrying yet a third dude), and no one in this sense turning out happy. Her conclusion is essentially that "there are no mistakes", which one may take or leave I suppose.
This film is absolutely, unforgivably melodramatic for the first half or so, especially during the "present" scenes - the past stuff is more or less alright - but it improves, and the last few scenes make a pretty excellent ending, so far as a happy-ish ending can be considered good; I usually find such things feeling a bit contrived, but not here. Also, it has a super-good cast, including Vanessa Redgrave, Claire Danes (old and young Ann Grant, respectively), Natasha Richardson, Glenn Close, Natasha Richardson, Meryl Streep, and...oh yes, have I mentioned Natasha Richardson...?
Okay, enough being a dork. Decent film. Worth seeing.
8/10
Kill Bill Volume 2.
What can I say. It was very boring. the only highlight of the film was when she rips out the eye and squishes it with her bare foot. Even the killing of Bill was boring. The the whole point of getting a sword made by a guy a guy who swore he'd never make another sword was that you use it to kill Bill instead of making his "heart explode". At least the first one had sword fighting and insane gushing of blood from severed limbs (even though it didn't look that realistic in my opinion, at least there was a mad hacking and slashing and serious blood loss). But this one. Like I said. Only good part was the eye.
Hated it. I'd never see either of them again out of choice.
No doubt but there is none other beeste comparable to the mightie dragon in awsome power and majestie, and few so worthie of the diligent studies of wise men - Gildas Magnus, Ars Draconis, 1465
Frequency was awesome!!! 10+
I just watched a wee Scottish film about a 10 year old deaf boy, Frankie, and his single Mum. She's been lying to him, telling him his father is a merchant seaman, and she's been posting letters to him for years pretending to be his father. Now his father's "ship" is in the docks and Mum has to find a man to pretend to be Frankie's Dad for a day.....~sigh,sniff,~ bring tissues....10+
The following review is based on Martin Scorsese's latest movie and in my opinion, likewise shared by the author of the review, it is a complete flop. Please read it!!! Even if you liked the film I bet you won't be able to stifle the laughs!!
The title clearly refers to Scorsese's talent, which vanished in a squirt of stage blood about 15 years back. He wasn't talented, he was brilliant -- but that was 20 years ago. Today he should be making intelligent independent movies, elder statesmanly flourishes of wit and humanity, inspiring a younger generation. Instead, he's humiliating himself with overblown junk. His love affair with hoodlums is tiresome, his critique of Catholicism is ignorant and stupid -- I mean, I dislike Catholicism as an institution, and God knows it doesn't need me to defend it -- but any sociological or spiritual phenomenon with the history and complexity of Catholicism deserves better treatment than the head-kickings Scorsese meets out. And ironically, Scorsese has made his own Faustian pact with the Devil -- he had his years in the Hollywood wilderness and feels he won't get anything thoughtful financed -- so it's better to team up with a bankable but untalented actor and produce these lumbering, brainless sub-epics.
....
Right -- my last word, if you're still reading. We are currently being told by our masters to hate Iran. It has one of the few cinemas in the world that sometimes try to show something true about the human condition. Whereas our civilization produces, as one of the top-billing cultural manifestations of the year, expensive to make, heaped with praise and awards, exported around the world and seen by multiple millions--something about as edifying as watching lions tortured or Christians having limbs lopped off at the Roman Colisseum two millennia ago. What does this say about us?
For the complete review see: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/...ments?start=30
My hide hides the heart inside
Sorry my reply took so long. I've been away for a bit...
I really liked the movie. I loved the use of colour contrast, especially with the blood on the snow when his family was killed and the way the drawings on the wlals of his room at school stuck out because of the white paper in the dark room. I thought it was really well-filmed- evey scene seemed to pop out as all the images were so strong. I liked the actor as well, I thought he got hannibal's subtlety of movement just right. One thing that did bother me, though, was that after all the events of the movie, the sent Hannibal straight to the U.S., and made no mention that alot happens between then and when he moves to the states.
I'd have to say though, that it's not my favourite of the Hannibal Lecter movies. It cannot compare to Silence, and still not to Hannibal. I'll put it on equal level with Red Dragon. Silence is just...perfect. Jonathan Demme was a genius in his camera angles, the actors genius in...well, everything. Hannibal was great in that aspect as well, though Ridley Scott's take on Harris's novel did not impress me. He left alot of things out, and other things unexplained. I still don't know if I like Clarice in Hannibal either; not Julianna Moore as her, but the character herself. Red Dragon was made by Ralph Fiennes' acting. No one can play a creepy character like him. Red Dragon has a very different quality to it than the others, and I think it's because it was done on a much grander scale. The settings and the camera shots are so much bigger and more obvious. There is less to be noticed to the actors than the surroundings.
And now that I've written you a novel about my creepy knowledge of these movies, I hope you'll go back and watch them all again!![]()
I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight,
Waiting for a winter to be done.
Why do I still see you in every mirrored window,
In all that I could never overcome?
Rattatoille -- yes, it fair to spend $9-10 for this one.
Let's see...what have I seen lately.
I went on a Hitchcock marathon yesterday. I watched The Man who Knew Too Much, The 39 Steps, and The Lady Vanishes (again!).
What can I say...Hitchcock was brilliant.
I also watched Scoop. It was cute, though I can only take Woody Allen for so long...and then Titanic was on tv, so I thought I'd stay up for a while longer. There isn't much to say about that one that already hasn't been said. I think the 1000000 oscars it won speak for themselves.
I'm weary with right-angles, abbreviated daylight,
Waiting for a winter to be done.
Why do I still see you in every mirrored window,
In all that I could never overcome?
While many folks liked or respected The Departed, I agree with this reviewer that it was junk film. Iran has some good films like that one about the boy losing his sisters shoes, but there are major restrictions on films in that country; the director of that film said so.
Last edited by byquist; 07-03-2007 at 01:27 AM.
Interesting review Jamesian, I am sure you must be aware that Natasha Richardson is the daughter of Vanessa Redgrave, niece of Lynn Redgrave. Did you see "The White Contessa" ? All three women starred in that film. I also saw Natashia in a film called "A Month in the Country". Colin Firth apparently agreed with your assessent, or so his character did. He was quite smitten with her. She played her role of a secluded frustrated parson's wife longing for something more (such as Colin Firth). Understated, but beautifully acted performance, with great nuance. I have come to admire her greatly; a very fine actress indeed, she takes after her aunt and her mother and her father is an actor also is he not? You have good taste in actresses.
I will have to check out this film - "Evening". Sounds interesting.
I just watched David Lynch's film "Mulholand Drive". Now that is one I can hardly describe. I have to say it kept me watching every minute. I liked the film noir feel and the quirky Lynch characters. Has anyone see the film? If so I would love to talk about it or please comment. It was far-out strange, but surprisingly quite good I thought. It was so well-done; well crafted. Anything Lynch does is unusual and unique. I probably need to see it a second time to pick up all the details and symbolism. Definitely interesting, to say the least.
Last edited by Janine; 07-03-2007 at 02:21 AM.
"It's so mysterious, the land of tears."
Chapter 7, The Little Prince ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Janine that is one of my fav films. I like Lynch soooo much (hehe look at my signature)
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I own the film and have seen it more than 3 times +one time in theater. If you like this one do see the "Lost Highway", for me this is the masterpiece of David Lynch. It has the same spooky atmosphere, excellent actors and a devastating music theme!
Keep up the good work![]()
Through the darkness of future past
the magician longs to see
one chance out between two worlds
'Fire walk with me.'
Twin Peaks