Celluloid #60

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Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967) Kramer - While I certainly applaud the social message of this film--that's exactly what this feels like: "a social issue movie." Rather than being impressed by the actors or entertained by the story, I felt like I was being taught a lesson about interracial love, accompanied by cheesy music. Poitier and Katharine Hepburn are both good, I think this film just hasn't dated that well. 3.5/5

Maitresse (1973) Schroeder - A man starts dating a woman who works as a dominatrix. At first, he's kinda into it, but becomes increasingly jealous. Gerard Depardieu plays the lead and it's fun to see him young and handsome, yet still looking like a bruiser. Despite the potential kinkiness, this film had a hard time holding my attention. 3/5

Memories of Underdevelopment (1968) Gutierrez Alea - Sergio's wife and family leave Cuba for the United States. He stays behind for unknown reasons. He's an intellectual who finds Europe superior to Cuba which is stuck in "underdevelopment." Not only does he possess condescending sentiments towards his countrymen, but doubly so towards women. A Cuban film that looks and feels like a French New Wave feature. 4.5/5

Portrait of Teresa (1979) Vega - Another film from my Latino film class. Teresa works at a factory, choreographs the Union's cultural dance group, and takes care of her family. She and her husband fight often about her being too busy, but he holds many macho ideals of that era. This is a film that champions the need for sexual equality and revised gender roles. It's also stylish. 4/5

Purple Rain (1984) Magnoli - I don't really care if this movie is just a vehicle to see multiple performances by Prince. The "Kid" is a musician in the Minneapolis scene. His parents fight constantly, and his mom is often beat up. He possesses an intense anger streak, and is falling in love with Apollonia. However, Apollonia has musical desires of her own. Basically, the plot is mostly forgettable...You watch this movie because Prince is oddly sexy for a small hairy man, and these songs are great. 4/5