Credible World Science fiction movies are an odd thing. They and “detective” movies depend more heavily on literary conventions than other types of films. But you know, where detective movies have swallowed the form and adapted in rich ways, science fiction hasn’t settled gently into film. Its an odd, unintuitive truth, despite the flood of… Continue reading Æon Flux (2005)
Tag: p2006
Comments first posted in 2006
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
Overdeveloped Oh man, how sad. It is a sad story of failure that itself is a failure. It is placed in a world where the unnatural is impinging on the natural and that is called undesirable. And it itself is so unnatural, so manufactured and manipulative it runs counter to itself. Sure, it is independent… Continue reading The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
Barbed Wire Dolls (1976)
Captured I’ve been involved in a dangerous business, diving into the catacombs of film, digging around in trash pits and seeing grand things. Part of this endeavour comes from my appreciation for the vitality of film today which in large part is anchored by Spanish and Spanish-speaking filmmakers. There’s an easy sliding of realities, a… Continue reading Barbed Wire Dolls (1976)
Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Playing with Plays Adapted for the screen by the same folks who next did “Casablanca,” incidentally with Lorre. Filmed by someone known for his light touch. I’m not of a fan of Capra’s, as he values the little quirky hooks in the story and dialog and depends on some grand sweep (usually nostalgic) to make… Continue reading Arsenic and Old Lace (1944)
Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Short Story Long What astounds me is how things change. Here’s a film that was celebrated in its day. In fact, I remember my third grade class in the DC area taking the day off to go to this. (The year previously, we had gone to see a Cinerama movie in the same theater.) We… Continue reading Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Archangel (1990)
Eisenstein’s Smooth Stones of Forgetfulness I only know a few of Maddin’s projects. This seems to be the earliest available. I’m really beginning a deep appreciation of this man’s visual soul. While this project didn’t change my life, it demonstrated the power to do so, like a strutting policeman among weak minds. What I like… Continue reading Archangel (1990)
Arabian Nights (1974)
The Story of the Story Pasolini is a wonderful, wonderful adventure. Welcoming him into your heart is not without cost; he’s a friend who is brilliant on one side and captive to banality on the other. The bad? Well, its tolerable for me because it is so flamboyantly obvious. The man has a triple curse:… Continue reading Arabian Nights (1974)
After the Thin Man (1936)
Walk this Way The conventional wisdom is that a classic is something that is so well formed initially that it serves well for a long time. So classic films, for instance, are seen like classic car engines, well engineered things that still work. But I think with art, most of the effect is due to… Continue reading After the Thin Man (1936)
Island of Lost Souls (1932)
The Soul of the Movie Sometimes a movie enters you while you watch it. These days a movie often enters you well before you pay to see it, the soul of the thing having been conveyed to you by too-long trailers and saturation advertising. But is sometimes the case that a movie — especially one… Continue reading Island of Lost Souls (1932)
Inside Deep Throat (2005)
Momentus “Deep Throat“ is an incompetent movie that had a phenomenal effect. So I guess it is appropriate that a documentary on some of those effects be less than competent as well. Here’s the interesting thing. No one should live without understanding a few basic things about themselves. Film is a large factor in how… Continue reading Inside Deep Throat (2005)