Dear Cinema Diary - Vol 2 E 1 - Jan 2011

I agree with others who have said that you will like this film if you love Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Even then it can be a bit of a disappointment. If you don't know Jeunet's work then skip this film in favor of one of his earlier films.

This is very dark and often unpleasant film to watch. The film spends a great deal of time hammering in the idea that “money is power” and everyone is cattle in the quest for cash. So, while the story might be difficult to take it was still a pretty well crafted film.

I actually want to hate this film but I’m finding it pretty difficult for some reason.

Spiraling surrealist stage play about revenge and redemption. Glad that I watched the film but it is something that I could have easily skipped.

The story can be a bit convoluted or elusive… so I would recommend at little bit of familiarity of the history of WWI and Manfred von Richthofen (The Red Baron). Still, rather well done and less embarrassing to put in your queue then “Fly Boys”.

Before John Carney directed the highly raved about “Once” (2006) he directed this over-looked gem about suicidal patents in a recovery center. Tough subject that manages some sweet moments without being condescending.

This is a straightforward revenge film that moves languidly towards a great conclusion. There aren’t really any surprises in this film so it is pretty easy to find this film boring and tedious. Still, it was still a nice break from action heavy films.

And speaking of action heavy revenge films…. yep finally got around to watching this one from Tony Scott. The film is also pretty heavy on religious elements. The visual style is a bit too artistic and the hyper editing borders on abstract. Still, it delivered what was expected and did a good job of being entertaining.

The Believer

Culturally-self-loathing Jewish man joins anti-Semitic movement. Actually, I enjoyed “Homicide” (1991) David Mamet’s film, more and explores similar a similar theme. There is a spiritual aspect that makes the film standout from other films dealing with neo-Nazi’s but over-all I found the film to be disappointing… especially considering all the high praise.

If you have brushed this film off because of the ‘story of a hustler’ storyline, you really are doing yourself a disservice. This is a complex and artistic story of a man who outwardly might seems rather simplistic yet with a complex past and emotions. His dreams of being a hustler quickly begin to seem idealist and naive in the face of the realities of life in in the city.

I’m left feeling that no one on the planet is ‘simple’. We are all a complex makeup of events and dreams. What might seem shallow is only a reflection of the unexpressed and/or inexpressible.

A harsh and unkind film that is still enjoyable by the end.

On a side note… find it odd that the Catholic Church censored the ‘man with a sack’ portion of the film… so the idea that people without priest collars can do good deeds is sacrilegious but the part of the film that makes the inside of a church look like the seventh circle of hell was fine??? Obviously I’m not Italian nor Catholic so… don’t get that aspect… So, yes… if your going to rent the film make sure it is Criterion.

This film alone made sitting through the three other films I have seen in the “Bad Girls of Film Noir” collection worth every moment. You aren’t going to find very many films with an illegal immigrant as the hero, especially from that era. It remains an obscure film as it technically not ‘pure film noir’ which is a pretty ridged classification system. So, do yourself a favor and break from the system

The DVD includes:
The Cameraman's Revenge (1912)
"The Insects' Christmas" (1913)
The Frogs Who Wanted a King (1922)
"Voice of the Nightingale" (1923)
"The Mascot" (1933)
"Winter Carousel" (1958)

OK, so you are ether a fan of the franchise or your not. If your not… obviously skip the film. If you are a fan know that this is at least better than “Resident Evil: Extinction”. Still, at this point in the series it is becoming harder and harder to explain there being actual humans to run around as zombie bait.

Five people in an elevator and one of them is the devil. OK, so there aren’t that many plot twists and the ones that do occur… you kind of see coming *way* ahead of time. So… really I shouldn’t like this film but… I do! Ha!, it was fun and I have actually seen worse “people trapped in an elevator” thrillers.

This is pure cheesy horror but fun in a campy sort of way.

There are two ways to look at this film… ether it is cliché and trashy or a camp classic. I was expecting a far worse and more offensive film then this little treasure. If your looking for something similar to “Faster Pussy Cat, Kill, Kill, Kill”, you will be disappointed. Still, it was worth my time and I now officially have at least one WIP (Women In Prison) film under my belt.

This film was certainly an interesting attempt. I liked the idea of the main character becoming a photographer so that she might become successful for her photos and not her appearance. Still, it is pretty heavy on the clichés. Still, don’t worry your misogynistic little brain, assertive women are still unsympathetic and a takes a man to fix things… *sigh* yep… it got that bad.

How could I be so kind with my rating of “Over-Exposed”… well because NOTHING compares to the offensive horror of “Bad for Each Other”.