Celluloid #40

In Theatres

Tokyo! (2008) Gondry, Carax, Bong - Triptych film presenting three outsider takes on the city of Tokyo. Interior Design is Gondry's entry and also my favorite of the three. A girl and her artist boyfriend move to the city, but things don't go very smoothly and she begins to feel under appreciated and undergoes a transformation that is visually interesting and sympathetic. I didn't completely understand what was going on in the second short, Merde. A man emerges from the sewer and begins wreaking havoc. He speaks gibberish and only eats flowers and cash. A comment on capitalism? terrorism? a modern day Godzilla? Your guess is as good as mine. Regardless, parts stretch on much too long and interest begins to wane after the first third. Lastly, Joon-ho Bong (the Host) offers up Shaking Tokyo, a look at the hikikomori (people who never leave their homes) and develops a love story that was a little sappy, but one that I was willing to enjoy. 4/5

In Home

Ballad of a Soldier (1959) Chukrai - A Russian film that utilizes innovative cinematography for the time and includes some very interesting shots and beautiful close-ups. A 19 year-old soldier gets a leave to go home for a few days, is asked by his comrades to run errands for them, and meets a girl along the way. Overall our hero is without faults or any ambiguity...I think a little greyness could have eased the quaint feeling. 3.5/5

Burn After Reading (2008) Coen - A decent offering from the Coen Brothers, that I think gets shit on a little too harshly, but would benefit from tapered expectations. My main issue was that the plot felt like a "non-plot", or some problem invented just to be sorted out in the course of the film. Enjoyable, if over-the-top performances from the all star cast, especially if you can handle Malkovich yelling all of his lines. Funny enough and worth a rental. 3.5/5

Leolo (1992) Lauzon - Kinda like Amelie, but male, French-Canadian, and dark, instead of female, straight up French, and whimsical. There's still the abundance of saturated greens and reds and overactive imaginations. However, Leolo's world is one of shit, obesity, fear, puberty, and constant masturbation. It's a little sad/disturbing, but provides some genuine laughs as well. 4/5

Wanted (2008) Bekmambetov - I thoroughly enjoyed Nightwatch for its visual style consisting of ridiculous effects (Timur loves his slow-mo), gratuitous violence, and silly action. Wanted delivers more of that, and I totally could have gone along with it all...if James McAvoy would stop talking! I don't mind him as an actor, but the dialogue made me a little crazy. 3/5

Celluloid #39

In Home

Cornbread, Earl, and Me (1974) Manduke - This film is only really notable for being the film debut of a really young Laurence Fishburne. While it features a blaxploitation-inspired soundtrack, this is really an urban melodrama. Cornbread is the local hero...great at basketball, stays out of gang trouble, teaches the younger kids, encourages his parents, and loves orange pop! Unfortunately, he is accidentally gunned down by the police, devastating the community. For the following hour we are left to see the coping strategies of the remaining characters, and a drawn out courtroom scene. While I appreciate the sentiment of the film, I couldn't completely swallow the complete lack of any subtlety and dialogue that often crosses over into complete cheesiness. 3/5

Reprise (2008) Trier - Two lifelong friends both want to become published authors. They are in their early 20s and their friendship is tested when Phillip has a nervous breakdown. Erik's first novel gets bad reviews and he suffers general insecurities, but his writing idol gives him praise that encourages him to keep writing. Mostly this is a Norwegian coming-of-age story dealing with growing up, relationships, and mental health. The film is really pretty, stark, and quiet-feeling...lots of black, white, and grey. It's also pretty hip--a fun scene at a party involves everyone dancing to Le Tigre's "Deceptacon." 4/5

Return to Oz (1985) Murch - Apparently the pinnacle of "creepy kid movies," Return to Oz starts off with Aunt Em getting tired of Dorothy talking about Oz to the point that she takes her to a doctor to receive electroshock therapy. Once we enter Oz, there are the Wheelers (weird long-appendaged clown people with wheels for hands and feet), Tic Toc (a stout metal man who needs frequent winding), Jack (pretty much the exact precursor of Jack in Nightmare Before Christmas), a moose head on a flying couch, a queen with 31 removable heads, and a really irritating talking chicken who thinks it's really clever. As an adult, the bad acting offsets any potential for scariness, but nonetheless a campy, odd little movie with some enjoyable old school special effects. 3.5/5

Celluloid #38

In Home

Alphaville (1965) Godard - This beautiful sci-fi noir was the inspiration for Blade Runner. A man from the "Outlands" comes to Alphaville. He lives in the past (because he takes pictures?) and kills a bunch of people (or lifelike robots) for unexplained reasons. Lemmy Caution is the ultimate hardboiled detective throwback. Women have numbers tatooed (referencing the Holocaust?) and say "I'm very well, thank you so very much" without any prompting. Alphaville is also a love story between Lemmy Caution and the lovely Anna Karina's character, emphasizing a need for nostalgia, emotion, and individuality in the face of sterility. 4.5/5

Chinese Roulette (1977) Fassbinder - A weirdo crippled teenage girl plots to have both of her parents and their lovers end up at a getaway mansion, and then shows up herself with her even weirder mute governess. As a group, they all play a game called "Chinese Roulette" where each person on one team has to answer random questions posed by the other team. Starts off basic enough, but morphs into hostile territory. 4/5

the Cyclist (1987) Makmalbaf - A short, simple, and sad film about an Afghani immigrant whose wife is dying, and in order to pay for her medical bills he agrees to participate in a circus. To make money he has to ride a bicycle in circles for a week straight...no sleeping, very little eating, and an awkward setup for using the bathroom. This film came out before Iranian film started getting more notice in the 90s, but uses some interesting camera shots. 4/5

Fistful of Dollars (1964) Leone - Classic spaghetti Western based on Akira Kurosawa's Yojimbo. However, Yojimbo was a much easier film to understand what/why events were happening. Clint Eastwood ultimately makes a cooler protagonist, precisely because he talks less and comes across as a mysterious loner. The plot is still that two sides of town are feuding while a new gunslinger comes to town and plays each side for a profit. On it's own, this film isn't bad at all, but I probably would have liked it better had I not already seen Yojimbo and its sequel Sanjuro. 3.5/5

Life of Brian (1979) Jones - More Monty Python--Born just around the corner from Jesus, Brian develops his own religious following, but it's the last thing he wants. Totally irreverent, poking fun at customs during that time in history as well as people's tendencies to look for a leader. All of this leads up to a finale of a group of criminals on their crosses, singing a little song called "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." 4/5

Malcolm X (1992) Lee - A fairly well-done biopic that covers the material in Alex Haley's book. Malcolm Little was a young gangster with a conk and a white woman who undergoes a massive transformation while in jail. A follower of the Nation of Islam sparks his interest until he converts and later becomes the visible face of the movement. Malcolm X's life is undoubtedly interesting and I suppose deserves to be captured on film, I just don't like how biopics always include cheesy elements like the extended voice over narration towards the end. Angela Bassett also stars and I would dare to say that she looks even more attractive now than she did in this film 17 years ago. 4/5

Celluloid #37

In Theaters

Waltz with Bashir (2008) Folman- Animated documentary about the Lebanon War and one man's inability to remember his experiences in it. This film tackles the nature of memory, post-traumatic stress, and the blocking out of terrible events. The dog scene at the beginning, the scene with the naked soldiers emerging from the water, and the scene with the giant lady were the highlights for me. The last quarter or third of the movie seemed less focused and lost me a little, but overall a worthwhile viewing. 4/5

In Home

El Analfabeto (The Illiterate One) (1961) Delgado - A man in his 30s (at least) cannot read or write. He receives a letter from his dead uncle and decides to enroll in school to finally learn. There's also a ridiculously sappy love story. Other people take advantage of Inocencio, but there always seems to be someone who admires the steps he has taken to better himself and therefore looks out for him. The film is pretty dated, but has a sweet message (I suppose) about the importance of literacy, but too saccharine for my tastes. 3/5

Wattstax (1973) Stuart - This documentary covers the concert at the L.A. Coliseum, complete with enjoyable performances by the Staples Singers, the Rance Allen Group, the Bar-Kays, Luther Ingram, Isaac Hayes, and more. Interspersed between the music are interviews of people living in Watts. The interviews focus on how Watts has changed (or not) since the riots, black power, and a lot about blacks and relationships. In my opinion, Richard Pryor is the weakest part of this film. 4/5

Weekend (1967) Godard - So this movie is pretty bizarre, but I liked it! In one scene a couple makes plans to kill her parents. In another a man believes himself to be God. An endless traffic jam. There's a scene revolving around cannibalism (and a pretty gruesome scene with a pig). Most entertaining to me were the abundance of car accidents, and car heaps littered all over the countryside. Godard also inserts his political rants to greater and lesser success...4/5

Celluloid #36

In Theatres

Gomorra (2008) Garrone - A deliberately paced film about the Camorra--a Naples-based mafia clan. This movie was so tense that I became anxious whenever people went outside or were alone inside, fearing that they would be the next victim. Sad and depressing intertwining stories about the inability to escape existing cycles. We see children become indoctrinated, professionals being stripped of their livelihoods, and the deaths of cocky young men. Naples is portrayed as an empty concrete jungle complete with environmental degradation. 4/5

In Home

Half Nelson (2006) Fleck - A middle school teacher has a crack addiction. One of his students discovers his secret and decides to befriend him. The student has an older brother in jail and his friends (drug dealers) look out for her and her mom. Ryan Gosling is pretty attractive, but that still doesn't make up for the inappropriate and fairly unbelievable relationship...perhaps meant to emphasize that we are all human, but I couldn't totally buy it. Oh, and someone working on this movie really likes Broken Social Scene...3.5/5

JCVD (2008) El Mechri - Jean-Claude Van Damme plays a version of himself in this meta-action/comedy (I don't know, make up your own genre). Jean-Claude is taken hostage during a bank robbery and the real criminals make him talk on the phone, to make it seem like he staged the robbery. There is a really weird monologue scene where Van Damme runs the spectrum of emotions, poking fun at his reputation as a bad actor. Overall this film takes a comedic perspective on action films and has-beens, but it's rarely ever as funny or clever as it probably wanted. That being said, the alternate/fake ending is pretty incredible. 3.5/5

the Meaning of Life (1983) Jones - I haven't seen much Monty Python, but this film definitely had its moments. The gluttony scene is disgusting, John Cleese giving his students a demonstration of marital sex, and my favorite...the "every sperm is sacred" skit with hundreds of dirty Catholic children. Ridiculous and irreverent as one would expect. 4/5

Celluloid #35

In Theaters

The Class (2008) Cantet - France's contribution to the Oscar's Best Foreign Film category is an interesting mix of fiction and documentary style. The film is based on a novel written by Francois, the teacher who also plays himself. The school itself exposes us to the diversity of urban France and tackles the current state of attitude towards immigrants. This movie is pretty much the opposite of every "inspirational teacher film." Francois is extremely human, makes mistakes, and there are no real tear jerking or overly dramatic transformations. Somehow, it still comes off as a fairly engrossing film. 4/5

In Home

Diary of a Chambermaid (1964) Bunuel - A Parisian girl goes to the country to become a maid. The "monsieur" wants to sleep with her and the old man wants to indulge his foot fetish with her assistance. Amusing the old man, but denying the "monsieur", she decides to quit, until she hears news of a local girl's rape and murder. She is convinced that the head male servant is responsible and wants him to confess and has little scruples in her means of trying to get him to do so. A very abrupt and unresolved ending. 3/5

Fog of War (2003) Morris - Robert McNamara was the Secretary of Defense for seven years, and a notable figure in deciding whether to go to war in Vietnam. He was considered extremely smart, if not a little arrogant. A bundle of contradictions: studied Ethics at Berkeley, then describes himself as a "war criminal." Was responsible for putting seat belts in cars, and becomes teary-eyed in describing his role in the firebombing of Japan prior to dropping the bomb. A compelling figure whether you hate him or can find some sympathy for him. 4.5/5

the Order of Myths (2008) Brown - Margaret Brown herself was a Mardi Gras queen in Mobile, Alabama, so her documentary is undoubtedly very personal. She examines the twin Mardi Gras celebrations that occur in Mobile: one for the whites, and one for the blacks. The whites justify the continued segregation as the ties to "tradition and roots." The blacks are obviously a little less stoked about the South's "traditions." The Mardi Gras parades are viewed as the last stronghold of segregation by the locals, but the younger generations seem to take deliberate actions to mingle more and to be more attentive to racial issues. 4/5

Scum (1979) Clarke - Scum is a controversial film about the English equivalent of juvenile detention. It's like a strict school where the students beat each other up, often from racial motivation. There is extreme violence committed in order for one "trainee" to become the "daddy" over all other trainees, and meanwhile even the staff even participates to a degree in the power game being played. There is a horrifying rape scene that made me nauseous (and I consider myself pretty desensitized at this point) and multiple suicides as a result of the environment. Lastly, a very young Ray Winstone helps this film become memorable, for better or worse. 4/5

Vampyr (1932) Dreyer - I think silent films often lend themselves to eeriness and a certain creep-factor, all though often unintentionally. This film is one step removed from being silent as it has some dialogue. I wasn't always entirely sure what was going on. I know some dude was messing with a book about vampires and Satan and another girl is "damned" but her soul gets freed when two men stab a corpse. The scenes in the fog are mesmerizing. A worthwhile film for anyone interested in classic horror. 4.5/5

the Wild Bunch (1969) Peckinpah - Considered one of the best Westerns and noteworthy for the amount of violence and bloodshed. A group of outlaws are looking to make "one last score." Their burglary goes awry and the group is forced to take on the "Generalissimo." The film is pretty racist and sexist, but I guess not any more so than one would expect from this genre. I suppose the amount of violence was shocking for the time, but feels a little dated now while still entertaining. 3.5/5

Celluloid #34

In Home

Doubt (2008) Shanley - A priest takes a young black student under his wing, but the mother superior believes their relationship to be of an improper nature. Throughout the film we are never given hard evidence to prove his guilt or innocence...a greyness that I appreciated. The mother superior represents the old way of the church while the priest champions progressive evolution. She's a huge bitch, but that doesn't necessarily make her wrong. While Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep, and Viola Davis all put in pretty great performances, I'm convinced that Amy Adams exists merely to have big eyes and look perpetually on the brink of tears. 4/5

Nashville (1975) Altman - This time Altman's ensemble cast plays country singers (or wannabe singers), politicians, or businessmen surrounding the Grand Ole Opry. It's a typical Altman film where often many people talk all at once and the audience cannot possibly pick up on all of the conversations. The actors wrote and performed their own songs, and throughout the movie, a van painted with "Hal Phillip Walker: Replacement Party candidate" drives around spouting off conservative propaganda and slogans. 4/5

Yi Yi (2000) Yang - For a decade or so, Edward Yang and Hou Hsiao-Hsien pretty much comprised the entirety of Taiwan's New Wave of film. This particular film is a long, serious, family epic. The wife feels that her life lacks meaning, and leaves for a mountain retreat. The grandmother enters a coma. The father acts as the main protagonist and revisits his first love. The daughter feels responsible for her grandmother's condition and suffers heartbreak of her own. And lastly, the young son brims with curiosity and precociousness. A beautiful and melancholy slice of life in modern day Taiwan. 4/5