atacta Blog

Under discussion:

No Country for Old Men  (2007)

Burn After Reading  (2008)

I think its fits in nicely within the Coen ouevre (i.e. people, sometimes dumb, sometimes not, getting involved in situations way over the heads) and they must have needed a break after they're masterpiece of No Country for Old Men and the grand attention it got....the problem with the film is that the thriller aspects of the film occur too late into the third act. So, in the meantime, the audience has to get by on enjoying the wild, over the top acting.....which is pretty good for the most part. However, if you are going to cast Pitt AND Clooney its going to be a distraction anyway - but when they are both trying so hard to give it that "Raising Arizona" intensity its alot to take in. 

Malkovich, McDormand, Swinton and Jenkins, all great actors, are sucked into the mayhem of the wildness of the script and are overwhelmed by it.

*** / *****

No Country for Old Men (2007)

Under discussion:

Donnie Brasco  (1997)

Donnie Brasco

****/*****

A very interesting turn for Pacino in a middle level mobster role.  Based on a true story and directed by the same guy that did Four Weddings and a Funeral - odd mixture.  Depp is fantastic and Heche is very good/sexy in an early role for her.  I see black comedy in the particularly brutal scenes.

A non-conventional mobster tale - more of a character study of the Pacino/Depp characters.  Pixote, I think it would make the top 100 list for the 90s but it would not make the top 50.

Under discussion:

The Ice Storm  (1997)

Buffalo '66  (1998)

Southland Tales  (2007)

Black Snake Moan  (2007)

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Hey, I love the Blues, I like Ricci (until she has those 'Oscar moment dialogues' near the end), I love Ricci in other stuff especially Buffalo 66' and The Ice Storm, I love Jackson and greatly respect the fact that he learned the guitar on this film.  Justin Timberlake - - not so good.  I found him much more appealing in his small role in Southland Tales.  He was awful!

In fact, its the Timberlake sequence with the preacher near the end as well as the end itself which is contrived.  The ending is pure Hollywood tripe and I do not buy it.

After the film, I will pick up my guitar and attempt again to play it well.  Watching a bit of the Blu-Ray extra features solidified my views on the film - this was strategic Hollywood product.

** 1/2 / *****

Buffalo '66 (1998)

The Ice Storm (1997)

Southland Tales (2006)

Under discussion:

The Getaway  (1972)

I liked the sort of atmospheric prison sequences near the beginning, and really enjoyed Sally Struthers in that odd little role.  Ali McGraw really drags the movie down in every scene she's in.  I enjoyed the colorful set of crooks.  However, the shoot out at the end was surprisingly dull as was the Slim Pickens' finale.

I have seen better 70's crime fare.

Under discussion:

The Adventures of Robin Hood  (1938)

Just watched this on the new blu-ray release.  What a beautiful film from the original Technicolor years.  Errol Flynn is a remarkably talented athlete and did most of his own stunts.  The results are as fresh as any pre CGI effort.  The battle scenes reflect the humanity of the situation in which is persecuted just wanted to join the persecutors and end the coup d'état.  The colors are vivid and the production is grand.  Really enjoyed it and my kids did so even more.

**** / *****

Under discussion:

Chungking Express  (1994)

I loved this film.  The pairing of the very related stories is fresh, hip and alive in a way completely foreign to me.  What little I know of Godard and the New Wave was in presentation here, I think.  Ironically, my parents lived in Hong Kong when this film was made and I spent a good amount of time there myself.  The film really captures the incredible energy of the place.  The movie is very sexy and so are the female leads, especially Faye Wong, playing “Faye” in the second of the two stories.  She is delightful and I won’t soon forget her jamming to The Mamas and the Papas.

As for Wong Kar-Wai?  This was also my introduction to his work.  I know very little of the guy but this film is certainly ripe with Americana.   Has he lived here?  There is an odd little food fetish theme that runs throughout that is really sweet and familiar.  Basically, this is a wonderfully sweet film in its narrative.  The handheld camera work was executed to perfection, as were the jump cuts and freeze frames.

To those of you that are sometimes reluctant to “get out of the box” in your film viewing (and when I look back at my list of favorite films, I am guilty of same) try this as an alternative.  Thank you dictator jbissel!  (and sorry about the late review folks)

**** 1/2  / *****

p.s. the DVD's Tarantino intro and postscript are really cool - he has a real love for this guy

Under discussion:

The Happening  (2008)

1.   Worst direction in the performance of extras – many instances of smiling children at the time of worst peril.
2.   Worst moment in film history– Wahlberg singing the Doobie Brothers’ Black Water.
3.   Worst diffusing comic banter of any disaster film ever made.
4.   Second Worst moment film history– Wahlberg’s conversation with the plant.
5.   Best looking leads (Wahlberg and Zooey Deschanel) who maintain fine apparel and pristine makeup throughout the calamity.
6.   Most disinteresting and superficial insertion of marital problems in a complete failed attempt at story narrative.
7.   The worst case of “I cannot believe what I am watching here” ever.
8.   Worst case of counting down the minutes to the end of the film.
9.   Worst line ever written – “there is something 'exorcisty' about her.”
10.   Poor Betty Buckley – she seems to be an underused actress and is pretty jolting in her brief appearance.
11.   1:16 – worst marital reconciliation in the face of certain death
12.   The end – the best ending ever because it ended this disaster.

0 Stars  

Under discussion:

Drugstore Cowboy  (1989)

My Own Private Idaho  (1991)

Paranoid Park  (2007)

Gus Van Sant exploring his familiar Northwest American childhood detachment and apathy.  This is among his best work - in the same league with Drugstore Cowboy, My Own Private Idaho and Elephant.  I cannot wait to watch this again soon.  It really is a companion piece to Elephant without the abject horror.  I know of these skatepark guys - I have seen them and met them recently and I used to do a bit of this myself back in the day - in this film a culture that signifies a generation or generations of youngsters alienated by the CNN new culture of bad news and the breakdown of the family in all its nastiness.  The scene between Alex (Gabe Nevins) and his wayward father (Jay 'Smay' Williamson) near the end serves as an afterthought given the make up of Alex and his droogs.  It is truly amazing how Van Sant captures this culture in a way far more superior to MTV, Nick Jr, you know what I mean.  I am too old to watch those stations.  This is stark realism set to an amazing soundtrack.  If and when you watch the DVD, keep the subtitles on for the song references - it will build a nice play list.  The only rub on the film is the blithe treatment of the early female love interest, the cheerleader who dreams of more condoms and superficial love.  Otherwise I agree with Adam, certainly one of the best films of the year.

Drugstore Cowboy (1989)