Celluloid #33

In Theatres

Donkey Punch (2008) Blackburn - What can I say? It's February and the movie choices in the theater are growing slim, and John and I wanted to watch a trashy film. This one qualifies, but the actual "donkey punch" itself happens pretty early in the movie followed by gory scenes of Boy vs. Girl violence. I thought it was hilarious that out of the 15 or so people in the theater, with the exception of me, John, and two other dudes, everyone in the audience was a middle-aged male sitting by themselves (I was the only girl at all)...I think they may have expected a different kind of movie. I wouldn't necessarily recommend that anyone seek this film out, but if you enjoy Japanese-style gore thrillers (all though this film is British) this one is not without merits...it's pretty-looking and has a decent soundtrack. 3.5/5

In Home

the Burmese Harp (1956) Ichikawa - A Japanese troop is stationed in Burma near the end of WW2. They are aware that Japan has been heavily bombed and seem a little relieved when they are ordered to surrender. Another troop, also stationed in Burma, refuses to throw up the white flag, so a soldier from the original unit is sent to convince them to stop as they are more valuable to rebuild their country alive than to pointlessly continue fighting. That soldier becomes a monk and decides to wander Burma, burying the dead. A really beautiful film that is obviously anti-war without being preachy, instead proclaiming that as humans "our work is to ease suffering in the world." 4.5/5

Casablanca (1943) Curtiz - So I finally got around to seeing this classic...it's romantic, but not in a way that makes me groan or want to puke. During WW2, many Europeans made their way to Morocco to obtain exit visas to escape to America. Bogart plays "Rick", an American that owns a bar when the love of his life reemerges with her husband who are one of those who need visas. 4/5

Dazed and Confused (1993) Linklater - It's the last day of school in 1976. There's some hazing of incoming freshmen, but also the befriending of them. It's a small town, so there's plenty of driving around, drinking, smoking weed, and rock music. Pretty silly, but an interesting look at a day of rituals and transformations. Also, because it's a Linklater film we get the requisite characters with "deep" monologues or dialectical conversations. 3.5/5

Match Point (2006) Allen - A former tennis pro of a poor Irish background, finds himself among the upper classes of London. He marries the daughter of a wealthy businessman, but secretly has a passionate affair with her brother's fiance. She becomes pregnant and wants him to leave his wife. Chris feels trapped and has to juggle a variety of lies. A Hitchcock-style thriller where you can't help but root for people to do bad things. 4/5

WALL-E (2008) Stanton - In the near future, Earth will be full of garbage to the point that humans will abandon the planet to live in a spaceship. WALL-E is a little robot whose job it is to compact and stack blocks of trash. Eve is another robot sent from the humans to detect the presence of organic life. WALL-E falls in love with Eve and returns with her to the ship. A cute selfless love story and apt environmental tale for the youngsters. 4/5