I Want Someone To Eat Cheese With (05): Jeff Garlin plays an overeater looking for love. Not nearly as fun or funny as his role in 'Curb your enthusiasm'.
Thirteen (03): Powerful and disturbing study of the perils of being a young female teen in todays world. I usually can't abide Holly Hunter but she was perfection in her role as the recovering addict mother . The acting by all the kids was spot on. WWW, LLI, EOS.
Downfall (04): German historical drama recounts the last days of Hitler and pals in the Berlin bunker through the experience of his secretary Traudi Junge. Traudi just died recently and the fact that she lived openly in Germany working as a secretary after the war (the director found her name in the phone book!) BMM. WWW.
Would I Lie To You? (97): French comedy about a man down on his luck who gets mentored by a wealthy Jewish garment district mogul who thinks the man is Jewish (but he's not).
Not very funny.
Cloistered Nun:Runa's Confession (76): From the Japanese 'pinku eiga' genre (soft porn) about a nun , her sister and everyone's bizarre erotic adventures. Poorly acted, poorly written. NMCOT.
The Page Turner (07): French psychological thriller about a young woman who takes revenge upon a woman who she feels ruined her budding career as a pianist when she was a child. Pretty good!
Everything is Illuminated (05): BTIE film about a young American Jewish man (Elijah Wood is perfect in the role..) who travels to a remote Ukranian village in Russia in search of some family history. The characters are hysterically funny and the story is painful, poignant and uplifting.
Going Nomad (98): Boring Indie film about boringly quirky characters who cruise NY streets at night in big old cars. GMAB.
Charlie Wilson's War (07): BTIE , fun ,mainstream film about true life congressman Charlie Wilson and his achievements in Afghanistan. Watch the DOC about him if interested.
The Wire Season One (03): HBO series set in Baltimore. FAH.
The Secret Life of Words (05): Almost turned it off but so glad I stuck with it. Fascinating character study of a young nurse who lived through the personal horrors of the recent war in Yugoslavia and the man she treats for burns on a remote oil rig (played by Tim Robbins). WWW.
Black Irish (06): Director Brad Gann spent years getting this made, a real labor of love that panned out beautifully. Follows a teenage boy trying to make good in a lower middle class Irish family in Boston. Without all the annoying 'Southie' stereotypes . Refreshing and well acted. WWW.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Lee Just Watched (Mar 28 - Apr 11)
1. Keep the River on Your Right (1999): DOC about a NY artist who goes to live with a Peruvian cannibalistic tribe in the Amazon in 1955. Tobias Schneebaur is a fascinating person and his life story is riveting. However, the direction, editing and overall filmaking was not well done. Still, it's a story WWW and I'm glad I stuck with it.
2. Exiles (2004): French drama about a young couple hitching thru Algeria. NMCOT.
3. Le Trou (1960): French, B&W. Director Jaques Becker's last film. Powerful story about a group of cellmates planning a prison break. Great characters, excellent script. LEM, WWW.
4. The White Diamond (2004): Werner Herzog's intriguing DOC about an aeronautics engineer who builds a modern helium airship for the purpose of exploring the Guyanese rainforest canopy. WWW.
5. The Desert of the Tartars (1976): Based on a contoversial 1938 novel. Unique story of the soldiers who are stationed at a remote desert fort awaiting the Tartar invasion that will never come....I found it engrossing and WWW but my guess is it's NECOT.
6. Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979): Italian film about a political activist who is exiled for a period of time to a remote Italian Village. It explores the growing fondness between him and the simple villagers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. WWW.
7. Off The Map(2003): An absolute top favorite film. Told thru the eyes of an 11 yr old girl. The dad (played by Sam Elliot) is experiencing a six month bout of crippling depression. Her mom is cool beyond words (played by Joan Allen). A visitor from the IRS arrives, and wow, life happens. All set in way nowhere New Mexico in the 60's & 70's live off the land era . .
LEM,DNA,BMM, WWW.
8. Holy Mountain (1973): Latin American,
allegorical, avante garde with stunning imagery. Plot didn't hold me but for those who like this genre I would imagine this would rate 5 stars.
9. Michael Clayton (2007): The box office hit was actually WBTIE. Thriller about a lawyer who cleans up messes. I loved actor Tom Wilkinson's performance as the Bipolar colleague. FAH. EOS.
10. The Decline of the American Empire (1986): French Canadian director Denys Arcand sets us up with nine well to do academic friends/colleagues at one evening's dinner. The conversation reveals their sexual habits and values. WWW.
11. The Barbarian Invasions (2003): Sequel to Arcand's 'Decline"
with far richer and more empathetic character developement. We meet up some 20 years later with our dinner companions. The main character is dying in a Montreal hospital. His financially successful son manages to perform miracles to make his dad's last days worthwhile. Very powerful. LEM, LLI,WWW.
12. Stardom (2000): Not so great film by Denys Arcand . Takes a cynical look at the quick rise to and fall from fame that our modern culture nurtures and embraces. Not as good as I would have expected.
13. My Brother's Wedding (1983): Well directed and acted. Story of an African American middle class family, their communtity, and the contrast and rivalry between the two brothers as the older one's wedding day approaches. I enjoyed it.
14. My Night at Maud's (70): French director Eric Rohmer's b&w film involves three Parisian intellectuals .They spend the night discussing and exploring their religious and secular beliefs. NMCOT but for those that enjoy this genre I imagine it would be a top runner.
15. M. Hulot's Holiday (53): French director Jaques Tati stars as his alter ego M. Hulot in this delightful film about the bumbling but charming Hulot taking his holiday at a seaside resort. Wonderful in every way, especially if you are a Tati fan......LEM, WWW.
2. Exiles (2004): French drama about a young couple hitching thru Algeria. NMCOT.
3. Le Trou (1960): French, B&W. Director Jaques Becker's last film. Powerful story about a group of cellmates planning a prison break. Great characters, excellent script. LEM, WWW.
4. The White Diamond (2004): Werner Herzog's intriguing DOC about an aeronautics engineer who builds a modern helium airship for the purpose of exploring the Guyanese rainforest canopy. WWW.
5. The Desert of the Tartars (1976): Based on a contoversial 1938 novel. Unique story of the soldiers who are stationed at a remote desert fort awaiting the Tartar invasion that will never come....I found it engrossing and WWW but my guess is it's NECOT.
6. Christ Stopped at Eboli (1979): Italian film about a political activist who is exiled for a period of time to a remote Italian Village. It explores the growing fondness between him and the simple villagers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. WWW.
7. Off The Map(2003): An absolute top favorite film. Told thru the eyes of an 11 yr old girl. The dad (played by Sam Elliot) is experiencing a six month bout of crippling depression. Her mom is cool beyond words (played by Joan Allen). A visitor from the IRS arrives, and wow, life happens. All set in way nowhere New Mexico in the 60's & 70's live off the land era . .
LEM,DNA,BMM, WWW.
8. Holy Mountain (1973): Latin American,
allegorical, avante garde with stunning imagery. Plot didn't hold me but for those who like this genre I would imagine this would rate 5 stars.
9. Michael Clayton (2007): The box office hit was actually WBTIE. Thriller about a lawyer who cleans up messes. I loved actor Tom Wilkinson's performance as the Bipolar colleague. FAH. EOS.
10. The Decline of the American Empire (1986): French Canadian director Denys Arcand sets us up with nine well to do academic friends/colleagues at one evening's dinner. The conversation reveals their sexual habits and values. WWW.
11. The Barbarian Invasions (2003): Sequel to Arcand's 'Decline"
with far richer and more empathetic character developement. We meet up some 20 years later with our dinner companions. The main character is dying in a Montreal hospital. His financially successful son manages to perform miracles to make his dad's last days worthwhile. Very powerful. LEM, LLI,WWW.
12. Stardom (2000): Not so great film by Denys Arcand . Takes a cynical look at the quick rise to and fall from fame that our modern culture nurtures and embraces. Not as good as I would have expected.
13. My Brother's Wedding (1983): Well directed and acted. Story of an African American middle class family, their communtity, and the contrast and rivalry between the two brothers as the older one's wedding day approaches. I enjoyed it.
14. My Night at Maud's (70): French director Eric Rohmer's b&w film involves three Parisian intellectuals .They spend the night discussing and exploring their religious and secular beliefs. NMCOT but for those that enjoy this genre I imagine it would be a top runner.
15. M. Hulot's Holiday (53): French director Jaques Tati stars as his alter ego M. Hulot in this delightful film about the bumbling but charming Hulot taking his holiday at a seaside resort. Wonderful in every way, especially if you are a Tati fan......LEM, WWW.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Lee Just Watched: April 26 - May 9
1. Zigeunerweisen (1980): Strangley beautiful but ultimately inaccessable Japanese film about?????
2. Genghis Blues (1999): DOC, Blind blues singer from San Francisco Paul Pena masters the art of Tuvan 'throat Singing' and goes to Tuva to join in a singing competion. Very interesting look at both him and the Tuvan culture.
3. The Bridge (06): DOC. Excellent film about the suicides that take place on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, allegedly the most popular suicide destination in the world. BMM that we could actually see so many people jumping off during the one year period that the director kept his cameras filming towards the bridge. NWIE, WBTIE. I thought it would be an exploitative film preying on this terrible tragedy for money but not in the least. Interviews with all the 'jumpers' friends and families were fascinating and portrayed the depth of anguish experienced by many suffering from depression and other mental illnesses. WWW. LLI.
4. The Savages (07): Laura Linney and Philip Hoffman in fairly good film exploring the issues around caring for a parent (who you don't necessarily like or relate to) in their last days. Tough look at the world of nursing homes in our country.
5. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (07): Pretty harsh movie about two brothers who attempt to escape their troubles by robbing their parents jewelry store. Dark as hell. Well acted.
6. Jesus of Montreal (1989): An early film by wonderful director Denys Arcand set in Montreal. A restaging of a local church's annual 'Passion Play' yields powerful and unexpected results for everyone involved. WWW.
7. Like it Never Was Before (1995): Once again, Danish director Susanne Bier ('After the Wedding', 'Brothers') has BMM. In this early film she presents to us a unique and surprising story of a young family who's fate takes quite a turn when they go to the seaside for their vacation. LEM. WWW, LLI. I truly loved this film.
8. A Lawyer Walks Into a Bar (07): Not bad DOC that follows six hopeful lawyers to be as they prepare for the California Bar , the most difficult bar exam (according to this doc) in the U.S. Anyone involved in the Law will probably love it.
9. The Monastary: Mr. Vig and the Nun (06): Unusual DOC that follows an eccentric elderly Danish man who owns a huge run down castle and is attempting to fulfill his lifes' dream which is to turn it into a Russian Orthodox Monastary! WWW, probably NECOT. WOTBP. (way off the beaten path).
10. This is England (06): Absolutely BRILLIANT film about a young boy who has lost his dad to the Falkland's war in the 80's. Ostrasized and vulnerable in his working class English neigborhood he becomes involved with a local gang. EOS, LLI. The actors , all unknown, are astonishing and I would have liked to see both gang leaders win an academy award. The performances, every one, BMM.
11: Blackout (07): OKBNG . The intertwining stories of a group of characters living in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn N.Y. during the 2003 Blackout .
12. Joshua (07): Surprisingly disturbing psychological thriller starring actor Sam Rockwell ( who i happen to like very much). He and his wife have a son Joshua who becomes not so very nice after the birth of his new baby sister.. Set in NYC . I can't seem to get it out of my head (and would like to as soon as possible....)
13. Man Push Cart (05): I am looking forward to seeing any new films by this talented young director Ramin Bahrani. This small, simple yet potent movie follows a 20 something Pakistani immigrant ( & former Pakistani 'rock star') as he tries to deal with his past, present, and the NYC world he finds himself an integral part of. He runs a food cart in midtown Manhattan. I found myself caught up in his life very quickly and wish i could follow him and see what happens over the years. A sequel please Mr. Bahrani!. LEM.
2. Genghis Blues (1999): DOC, Blind blues singer from San Francisco Paul Pena masters the art of Tuvan 'throat Singing' and goes to Tuva to join in a singing competion. Very interesting look at both him and the Tuvan culture.
3. The Bridge (06): DOC. Excellent film about the suicides that take place on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, allegedly the most popular suicide destination in the world. BMM that we could actually see so many people jumping off during the one year period that the director kept his cameras filming towards the bridge. NWIE, WBTIE. I thought it would be an exploitative film preying on this terrible tragedy for money but not in the least. Interviews with all the 'jumpers' friends and families were fascinating and portrayed the depth of anguish experienced by many suffering from depression and other mental illnesses. WWW. LLI.
4. The Savages (07): Laura Linney and Philip Hoffman in fairly good film exploring the issues around caring for a parent (who you don't necessarily like or relate to) in their last days. Tough look at the world of nursing homes in our country.
5. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (07): Pretty harsh movie about two brothers who attempt to escape their troubles by robbing their parents jewelry store. Dark as hell. Well acted.
6. Jesus of Montreal (1989): An early film by wonderful director Denys Arcand set in Montreal. A restaging of a local church's annual 'Passion Play' yields powerful and unexpected results for everyone involved. WWW.
7. Like it Never Was Before (1995): Once again, Danish director Susanne Bier ('After the Wedding', 'Brothers') has BMM. In this early film she presents to us a unique and surprising story of a young family who's fate takes quite a turn when they go to the seaside for their vacation. LEM. WWW, LLI. I truly loved this film.
8. A Lawyer Walks Into a Bar (07): Not bad DOC that follows six hopeful lawyers to be as they prepare for the California Bar , the most difficult bar exam (according to this doc) in the U.S. Anyone involved in the Law will probably love it.
9. The Monastary: Mr. Vig and the Nun (06): Unusual DOC that follows an eccentric elderly Danish man who owns a huge run down castle and is attempting to fulfill his lifes' dream which is to turn it into a Russian Orthodox Monastary! WWW, probably NECOT. WOTBP. (way off the beaten path).
10. This is England (06): Absolutely BRILLIANT film about a young boy who has lost his dad to the Falkland's war in the 80's. Ostrasized and vulnerable in his working class English neigborhood he becomes involved with a local gang. EOS, LLI. The actors , all unknown, are astonishing and I would have liked to see both gang leaders win an academy award. The performances, every one, BMM.
11: Blackout (07): OKBNG . The intertwining stories of a group of characters living in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn N.Y. during the 2003 Blackout .
12. Joshua (07): Surprisingly disturbing psychological thriller starring actor Sam Rockwell ( who i happen to like very much). He and his wife have a son Joshua who becomes not so very nice after the birth of his new baby sister.. Set in NYC . I can't seem to get it out of my head (and would like to as soon as possible....)
13. Man Push Cart (05): I am looking forward to seeing any new films by this talented young director Ramin Bahrani. This small, simple yet potent movie follows a 20 something Pakistani immigrant ( & former Pakistani 'rock star') as he tries to deal with his past, present, and the NYC world he finds himself an integral part of. He runs a food cart in midtown Manhattan. I found myself caught up in his life very quickly and wish i could follow him and see what happens over the years. A sequel please Mr. Bahrani!. LEM.
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