Week 36 in film

Imitation of Life (Douglas Sirk, 1959)
Safe to say that this film, the last in Sirk's oeuvre, is a culmination of the themes he likes to use in his films. I haven't seen the issue of racism been adressed so clever and effective before. The drama is truly gripping and the final scene is brilliantly sarcastic. Sirk is becoming one of my favourite directors and the late Hollywood 50's was already an era I love.
"I'm somebody else. I'm white... white... WHITE!"    9/10



Mud (Jeff Nichols, 2013)
There was a time when I couldn't stand Matthew McConaughey, I hated his self-indulgent overacting and presence on the screen in general. How easy this can change once an actor starts picking up good role after good role. In this film he is again acting great in a story which can best be described as a fairy-tale like drama from the perspective of children. Love the vibe, eventhough the ending leans towards the sweet and sappy. 8/10

The Wire - Season 3
Yes, I am still as excited as I was after the first season. How good is a series when you actually start missing (criminal) characters that are either killed or arrested? Two seasons to go and I will fall into a deep hole when this is over.... 9.5/10

Sharknado (Anthony C. Ferrante, 2013)
Best tagline ever: 'Enough said'. This film is so extremely bad...but it is made like it doesn't care and knows how bad it is. I had fun actually and you can't really say that the director failed since I am sure he was self-aware during the making of this crap. If not, he, and the rest of the world, should worry.... 5.5/10

The Last Relic (Grigori Kromanov, 1969)
You may have never heard of this film. Apparently the cinematic pride of Estonia. With or without this notion a pretty standard medieval adventure film that definitely has something going for it, for instance being charming and perhaps controversial (let's not spoil but the ending definitely makes a statement). Boring at times as well unfortunately. 6/10

The Roaring Twenties (Raoul Walsh, 1939)
Bogart and Cagney together in a picture never disappoints. I did expect a bit more fireworks in this film not only because of the cast but especially because I consider Walsh his White Heat (ten years later) a masterpiece and that one has a lot more suspense and action. The Roaring Twenties is a bit more timid and fragmented. Not a bad movie though, especially not if you are interested in its historical context.  7/10

Paradies: Glaube (Ulrich Seidl, 2012)
Not as good as Paradies: Liebe. This film somehow makes more of a caricature of its Christian female protagonist. People like her may be out there, but sympathy for her or her (moslim) husband is hard to feel. Well, I felt a bit bad for the husband a couple of times. Some moments are really funny and I wonder if that is what the director intented. 6/10

I'm a Cyborg, But That's Ok (Chan-wook Park, 2006)
The director of Oldboy made a messy, chaotic comedy that fails to be funny. This film is boring, and that's not ok.  3.5/10



The Hour-Glass Sanatorium (Wojciech Has, 1973)
Quite a trip. This film (from Poland) portrays a guy who visits his dying father in a sanatorium where some hour-glass trick can reverse time and change events. Sound like a science fiction film but this film is more a dreamlike, colorful trip. The protagonist is confronted with ex-girlfriends, his father and mother in better times, jew ghetto's etc. When I read this synopsis I was hoping for a film like Tarkovsky's The Mirror. The comparison doesn't hold up that well, this film is more static, colorful and fantasy-like. Looks like something that inspired Terry Gilliam's nineties work.  Beautiful, but at times confusing and (too) trippy.  7.5/10

Week 24 in film

Good week for films. Most of it the result of a rainy, windy weekend combined with a slight hangover:

Deadfall (Christopher Coppola, 1993)
Crap, what a horrible movie. Had to watch it because it has a hilarious Cage-performance, which is the only excuse for watching this piece of garbage. Cage is out of his mind, which is, as ever, priceless  2/10



Stoker (Chan Wook Park, 2013)
South-Korea is coming to Hollywood and this is the result. It is an exact mix with a typical Hollywood-twist-and-turns plot, beautiful cinematography and intense directing from Asia. The latter making it somewhat worthwhile 6/10

To Be or Not To Be (Ernst Lubitsch, 1942)
Perhaps one of the best comedy's ever. This film about a bunch of 'nazi'-actors is sharp, witty and has a high tempo. Pretty sure Tarantino watched it before he made his Inglourious Basterds.  9/10

Where the Sidewalk Ends (Otto Preminger, 1950)
The kind of noir-quality I expected from Preminger. Great plot, suspense and of course it has the beautiful Gene Tierney  8/10

Il gattopardo (Luchino Visconti, 1963)
To be honest I am somewhat disappointed by this classic. Ok, the cinematography is of Italian beauty and style. Its plot nevertheless demands quite a bit of patience. Perhaps better appreciated with more background knowledge of Italian politics or maybe a second viewing. Does have great performances.  7.5/10



Still Walking (Hirokazu Koreeda, 2008)
Russia has Zvyagintsev to imitate Tarkovsky, Japan has Koreeda to imitate Ozu. Intimate portrayal of a complex (as ever) family situation demands great leads which are present. Still it feels like something is missing, as if more impact could have been established.  7.5/10

Super 8 (J.J. Abrams, 2011)
E.T. has grown older. Well-portrayed roles by child actors who want to make a horror movie. 7/10

Only God Forgives (Nicolas Winding Refn, 2013)
Not even close to Refn's Drive. Closer to Fear X. Style over substance is abused here. Neon lights, elektro music, Lynchian takes in deep hallways. Theoretically it could totally blow me away, unfortunately any emotional involvement is lacking. The violence is overdone again, this time not only uncomfortable but also inappropriate. Has some good moments and Kristin Scott Thomas is impressive, but that's about it.  6/10



Tristana (Luis Bunuel, 1970)
The beautiful Catherine Deneuve is falling apart in more than one way. Not bad, but I am still not a fan of Bunuel's style. Viridiana being the major exception.  7/10

Dead Ringers (David Cronenberg, 1988)
Brilliant twin gynaecologists are sharing work, praise and women. Treats some interesting themes but presents them without focus. Maybe too rich and promising. Tedious. 6/10