Risselada Blog

Under discussion:

I Hired a Contract Killer  (1990)

I Hired a Contract Killer

Favorite Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki directs a movie set in England staring famous French actor Jean-Pierre Léaud.

The plot is great, but somehow seems contrived.  Maybe it wouldn't have been so much in 1990.  But it's not a detriment.  Even though I felt like many times I was ahead of the plot and knew exactly where it was going, I was so happy when it got there.  Maybe this is my kind of genre film.  For instance when the protagonist gets laid off and receives a crappy watch as the only thank you for so many years of work.  A situation like that has been played out countless times in film, but it's still perfect for Kaurismäki and his style and mood.  I expect certain things from Kaurismäki now, and I am excited when I get them.

I read one review that Margi Clarke for ruining this movie.  Although I still am completely in love with the film, I do think a different casting choice might have made it even better.  Although that would be an amazing feat considering how great it is already.

Rating: 10/10

Under discussion:

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures  (2001)

Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures

A fairly quality and fairly expansive documentary on the career of one of my absolute favorite filmmakers, Stanley Kubrick.

The film spends time on all of Kubrick's films.  If you didn't already realize each of Kubrick's films are a masterpiece, and each one can be looked at as a new era in his life.  The documentary features comments from those who worked with him and were around him in each of these eras.

While there is plenty of interesting pictures of Kubrick featured in the documentary, my one disappointment was the lack of direct footage or recording of Kubrick talking.  Actually there is a lot more of it than I had ever heard before, but it's still something I crave.  Still this shouldn't be a surprise as many of the greatest directors were relatively reclusive like this.

If you are already a huge Kubrick fan, there might not be a lot of huge surprises in the documentary, but I think it gives a pretty thorough view of his career.

Rating: 9/10