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

Week 23 in film

Before Midnight (Richard Linklater, 2013)
With the previous films being amongst my personal favorites I was somewhat afraid of a disappointment. The start felt a bit off, we see Jesse with his son at the airport, is this film going to live up to its predecessors? The answer: yes. It doesn't take too long before Jesse and Celine are together talking and talking, and talking. May be boring for many, it blew me away again. The conversations are so real, feel so natural and made me sit on the edge of my seat the entire time. After three films the 2nd (Before Sunset) is still the best. Linklater stated that this is the last one, I wonder how he feels in 9 years from now. Anyway, forget the Godfather-trilogy, this is better!  8.5/10



All I Desire (Douglas Sirk, 1953)
As I am watching a lot of films from the early thirties lately the great Barbara Stanwyck grows in my book of favorite actresses. In this film she is somewhat older, but still on fire. Not the best Sirk, but her performance makes it definitely worthwhile. 7.5/10

The Divorcee (Robert Z. Leonard, 1930)
Apparently a pre-code classic. Were the actors acting or reading from the script? To me they felt like cardboard, the story, controversial maybe, but nevertheless predictable and too sweet. Forgettable. 5/10

Design for Living (Ernst Lubitsch, 1933)
Much better example of a qualitative product of pre-code Hollywood. Funny and well-acted film from the director of favorites like Trouble in Paradise and To Be or Not To Be. Oh, and I will look up more films that have Edward Everett Horton, what a character!  7.5/10