Celluloid #78

In Theaters

My Son, My Son, What Have Ye Done (2009) Herzog - The plot is perhaps the least interesting part of the film- A man has some sort of spiritual awakening that causes him to "ascend to madness" and kill his own mother. Total Herzog moments of shots held too long until the audience laughs from nervousness, the Ostrich farm, and the pet flamingos. David Lynch as a producer may have contributed the stylish midget (Herzog has plenty of association with them as actors as well, but the suit makes the bit character feel more Lynchian) and more importantly, Grace Zabriskie. An enjoyable watch even if I would only consider it middle-Herzog. 3.5/5

Shutter Island (2009) Scorsese - A nice-looking film that at its best evokes the Shining. The plot centers around a dumb twist that one could predict early on in the film. Upon the reveal, frustration and tedium set it. For such an obvious twist, it sure has to be explained a lot. Of the two movies about madness I saw last weekend, I would wholeheartedly lean towards the other contender. 2.5/5

In Home

Men With Guns (1997) Sayles - A film that seems to take place in Guatemala, but never actually specifies a location. A doctor goes out to various rural villages to search for a group of former students that he taught as part of a humanitarian project. Of the eight or so, only one has survived, but instead of practicing medicine, he now hustles drugs. One by one, the doctor realizes that all the others have been brutally murdered by soldiers. Sayles also incorporates economic woes in portraying each village as the producer of only one crop. In the end, everyone is searching for a potentially mythical place called Cerce de Cielo. 4/5

Of Time and the City (2008) Davies - Stock footage + documentary-style contemporary film + poetry = a tone poem to Liverpool. The best is that Davies is a crank and doesn't like the Beatles. 3.5/5

Pierrot le Fou (1965) Godard - Stylish, cool 1960s France- A man gets fed up with his bourgeois lifestyle and leaves his wife for the babysitter. The two embark on a Bonnie and Clyde-style roadtrip. Anna Karina is as beautiful as ever. 3.5/5

Sunrise (1927) Murnau - A man and his mistress scheme together to create a plot to kill the man's wife. However, when it comes time to do the deed, he can't go through with it. The husband and wife end up spending a lovely day in the city and re-falling madly in love. When tragedy strikes, their rekindled love makes the blow that much more bitter. 4/5 

Celluloid #77

In Home

All That Heaven Allows (1955) Sirk - Technicolor film about burgeoning feminism, but in a time when class restraints provide obstacles. A widow falls for her gardener, but he lives a less traditional life, seemingly unconcerned about material possessions or status. She is still a part of the local social club, but seems to long for something different. Her fear and indecision provide the drama. 4/5

Catch a Fire (2006) Noyce - A man loves his family and soccer, and doesn't have any real political interest until he gets accused of being a terrorist. After he and his wife are tortured and then released, he actually does join an anti-Boer (white South African) group that encourages violent resistance. 3/5

Liquid Sky (1982) Tsukerman - A bizarro film that involves the early 80s New York fashion/underground music scene and a UFO. The film plays around with fluid gender and sexuality, but the sex is all very ugly and depressing and centers around a character who can "kill people with her cunt." The aliens are seeking opiates found in the human body during orgasm, but that part is all a little fuzzy. Cool to look at and delightfully cultish. 4/5

Nothing But A Man (1964) Roemer - Early 1960s film about a railroad worker who falls in love with the preacher's daughter. They are all black and living in the South; facing hardships of racism, unemployment, and family issues. Not a new story, but one that showcases the struggles of this era of civil rights. 4/5

Pu-239 (2006) Burns - A man gets radiation poisoning during an accident at the power plant he is employed for. Realizing he only has days to live, he steals some of the plutonium to sell on the black market in order to provide for his family. 3.5/5

Sunset Boulevard (1950) Wilder - Classic film about an aging, crazed actress named Norma Desmond. She was a silent film star, and now past her peak, has delusions about breaking back into Hollywood. She also has a tragic one-sided relationship with a struggling writer. Full of oft-quoted lines. 4/5

Celluloid #76

In Theaters

Fish Tank (2009) Arnold - Mia Williams is 15 and lives in the projects for white British people. She's very angsty, feels unloved, and uses dancing as an emotional outlet. Her mom likes to party and bring home new boyfriends fairly often. Connor, her newest hook-up, seems nicer than the others and goes out of his way to show the two daughters some much needed attention.The sexual tension between Mia and Connor is the main propelling force of the film. 4/5

In Home

the Exterminating Angel (1962) Bunuel - Very similar in theme to Bunuel's later film, the Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie. Another satirical cocktail party full of upper class people caught up in propriety/etiquette. However this film is darker and doesn't go for the laughs that Discreet does. This time around, the people cannot leave the room, no matter how hard they try. 3.5/5

the Great Dictator (1940) Chaplin - Somehow in 27 years, I had never seen a Charlie Chaplin movie. This one takes the physical comedy that I expected and combines it with historical revision of Hitler's reign. Chaplin plays two roles. One as a bumbling Jewish barber; the other as a bumbling leader named "Hynkel." Tackling such a tragic era, Chaplin manages to not only get some laughs, but also delivers an impassioned monologue urging humanity to unite. 4/5

Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003) Rodriguez - After enjoying a string of Rodriguez's work, I just couldn't get into this movie. Johnny Depp is on the screen way too much...I wanted to see more Salma or Antonio, as they are more interesting characters. Also, too many characters in general, and it just felt like Rodriguez was trying to cram in too many story lines. It's a mess of a movie, and while I can enjoy the campy violence, I've too recently seen it done just as well with characters and stories that I liked better. 2/5