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Oblivious, I Remain
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solafekxela Blog
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"British filmmaker Paul Morrison hasn’t been working in the industry for long, but his first feature film, Solomon and Gaenor, was well received and earned an Oscar nomination for best foreign film in 2000. Both this and his latest effort, Wondrous Oblivion, deal with the culture clashes faced by Jewish people in post-World War II society. Whereas his debut was a tragic and heartfelt love story, Wondrous Oblivion is a more lighthearted portrayal of a young child desperately seeking his place in the world.Eleven-year-old David Wiseman wants nothing more than to be the next great cricket player. His passion, displayed relatively quickly in the film through his adoration for the figures pictured on his many trading cards, is undeniable. However, like many ambitious young athletes, he’s, well, not very good. This, a problem faced by many prepubescent boys, is probably the most relatable aspect of an otherwise distant film.1960s London provides the backdrop for the tale of th ... " [More]
Re:Africa Unite
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Spout Mavens
"My review of Africa Unite: http://www.spout.com/blogs/sol afekxela/archive/2008/3/12/261 49.aspx " [More]
What Did You Say? Africa Should ...
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"Africa Unite: A Celebration of Bob Marley’s Vision is a film with a very surprising and insightful message. It’s all about how Africa should, er, unite. Secondarily, it is a concert film about the Marley family’s voyage to Ethiopia in 2005. For a total of twelve hours, the family led a musical celebration about the late Bob’s dream for the continent. Though their musical talent is undeniable, director Stephanie Black fails to do them justice in her well-intentioned but flawed depiction of struggles past and present in Africa. Firstly, I must declaim that I have had little to do with Bob Marley’s music until now. As familiar as all the songs performed in the film sounded, I was still awed by their intoxicating rhythm and charming sincerity. The first and last few minutes of the documentary are devoted to the performances of the Marley family and those who join them on stage, but the entire film is underscored by the beats and lyrics of Bob Marley&r ... " [More]
Re:Leading Men: Josh Lucas
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solafekxela
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Movies 101
"Next is Josh Lucas, who can aptly be described as a poor man’s McConaughey. Comparing him to Clooney in terms of acting skills and personality is like comparing Martin Scorsese to Michael Bay. One is very personal and involved in his projects; the other is a complete sell-out. Thankfully, the interview is salvaged by Lucas’ own admission that he is by no means one of the greatest working actors. The discussion of his work in films like Poseidon and Glory Road just doesn’t have the same weight as that of the other actors on the disc. Though he is able to discuss with some intelligence his own philosophy on films and the meaning of those in which he has acted, the interview only highlights his own pomposity, since all the discussion is more about him than his acting. The line that best summarizes his incompetence is the following, “I don’t know how method-y I am.” I’m not sure Lucas knows what method acting is. " [More]
Re:Leading Men: Daniel Day-Lewis
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Movies 101
"Following Lucas is heavyweight Daniel Day-Lewis, whose recent performance in There Will Be Blood proved him the greatest, most daring actor working today. Day-Lewis is quite private, so just the privilege to interview him is an honor and undoubtedly a momentous occasion. The discussion mostly follows his limited but much acclaimed resume, and the talk of his early work is particularly fascinating. He exhibits a personality not often seen in his few available interviews, and their conversation about his experience with the Royal Shakespeare Company is quite engaging. I was most curious to hear about Day-Lewis’ recent work, largely because I am more familiar with it, and the interview provides decent insight. The focus on his relationship with Martin Scorsese is well-covered, as is his rationale for working so infrequently. " [More]
Re:Leading Men: George Clooney
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solafekxela
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Movies 101
"George Clooney’s hour-long interview is first on the disc, and it is by far one of the most engaging. Clooney is, redundant as this sounds, naturally charming and charismatic. His great sense of humor is often overlooked, but Brown lets him run free, often chuckling at his subject’s one-liners. With this interview in particular, Brown’s knowledge about film really allows him to discuss in-depth the thought process that went into each film of Clooney’s. Now having directed his own films and having started a production company with good friend Steven Soderbergh, Clooney provides profound insight into the way Hollywood works. However, this does, to some degree, prevent him from really diving into the way he works as an actor. Much more time is spent discussing his work as a director, screenwriter, and producer. Perhaps this interview would fit better on a different disc. Still, the new information about Clooney’s childhood as well as his humility in discu ... " [More]
Re:Leading Men: Dennis Quaid
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Movies 101
"http://www.spout.com/blogs/sol afekxela/archive/2008/2/18/252 65.aspx I compiled my reviews of all four interviews into 1 post. Hope that's alright! The last interview on the disc is with Dennis Quaid, a largely overlooked but very talented actor. The film discussed in the most depth during the interview is The Right Stuff, undoubtedly one of Quaid’s greatest roles. His comments are candid, genuine, and informative, though he’s not naturally as engaging a speaker as the other interviewees. Some of the stories Quaid shares aren’t as relevant to the discussion as he may think, but they aren’t necessarily uninteresting. Since I’m naturally fascinated with Quaid, his work, and the decisions he has made, I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts as well as Brown’s perspective on his career. This interview is decidedly more focused on Quaid’s life than his specific acting methodology, and it is all the better for it. However, there is a fair am ... " [More]
Movies 101: Leading Men
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"Movies 101 is the NYU Film Course long moderated by Professor Richard Brown. The “Leading Men” series includes some of the finest working actors, as well as Josh Lucas. Each interview covers nearly every aspect of the actors’ respective careers, from the good, to the bad, to the ugly. This, of course, excludes Lucas, whose interview can only go so far in trying to make the man seem bearably competent. George Clooney’s hour-long interview is first on the disc, and it is by far one of the most engaging. Clooney is, redundant as this sounds, naturally charming and charismatic. His great sense of humor is often overlooked, but Brown lets him run free, often chuckling at his subject’s one-liners. With this interview in particular, Brown’s knowledge about film really allows him to discuss in-depth the thought process that went into each film of Clooney’s. Now having directed his own films and having started a production company with good friend ... " [More]
The Heart is Lifeless, Cold, an ...
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"Italian filmmaker Dario Argento is considered the all time great horror maestro, with films like Suspiria and Inferno on his resume. HIs daughter, Asia Argento, is an aspiring young filmmaker and actress with a few films under her belt. Her latest, with a title as agonizingly interminable as the film itself, is a near-shameful entry into the oeuvre of her family. It’s torture porn meets melodrama meets senseless violence meets, well, porn. There is not one image in The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things that did not disturb, annoy, or offend me. Based (loosely, I presume) on a short story by J.T. LeRoy, Argento’s film stars herself as an irresponsible teenage mother and Jimmy Bennett as Jeremiah, her seven-year-old son dragged from the comparatively heavenly foster home and thrust into a world of sexual and physical abuse. No film excites me more than one that sets out to toss countless disturbing images at my face for unidentifiable reasons. Schindler’s List po ... " [More]
Re:Carol's Journey
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"http://www.spout.com/blogs/sol afekxela/archive/2007/12/8/226 39.aspx " [More]