Thursday, May 5, 2011

Lee Just Watchded (Jan 26 - Mar 4)

Black , White & Gray (07): DOC about the controversial photographer Mapplethorpe and his connection with Sam Wagstaff and Patti Smith. Pretty interesting if you are a fan of any of them. Lots of interviews with Smith.

Crawford (08): DOC about how The arrival of the Bush family in 99 affected this small Texas town. WBTIE.

Kings and Queen (05): 146 minute french film by director Desplechin. Long and rambling story about a woman , her crazy but fascinationg ex, and a bunch of people in their lives. I found it strangely alluring. NECOT.

Days and Clouds (08): Very honest Italian film about a middle aged well to do couple in Genoa and how the loss of the husband's job affects their lives. WWW.

The Cool School (07): DOC. In the late 50s Walter Hoppes and Ed Kienholz opened a unique gallery in LA , allowing west coast artists to compete with the likes of Pollock and de Kooning in NY. Fascinating if the subject interests you.

Inside John Lennon: Unauthorized (03): Unauthorized bio. Some good stuff for Lennon fans.

The Assassination of Richard Nixon (04): Based on real event .Sean Penn portrays a world weary salesman who decides he needs to change the way things are by killing Nixon. Good character study. LEM.

Save Me (07): Surprisingly even handed story about a Christian haven for gay men who want to go strait. BTIE, OKBNG. Good only if the subject interests you.

Kurt Cobain:About a Son (06): Truly unique DOC about Cobain done through audio phone interviews Cobain did over the years with journalist Michael Azerrod. There is almost no footage of Cobain, none of his music, no other interviews with any one else. Just Magnificently shot images of three towns he inhabited. The photography BMM and reminded me of my own in many ways. WBTI, WWW, LLI. NECOT.

Scum (79): Alan Clarke's grim and powerful portrayal film of Britains Borstal (reform schools for boys) institutions during the Thatcher years. Made originally for BBC but they banned it.

Director: Alan Clarke (91): Simple and informative DOC about this brilliant director.

After the Life: Trilogy (1,2 & 3) (02): French director Lucas Belvaux created an interesting group of films in which some of the main characters intersect. Drug addiction, police work, underground agitators abound. I liked the 1st and 3rd, the 2nd fell short. The final shot at the end of the 1st is worth the whole thing.

The Firm/Elephant (DVD release 04): Two more brilliant films by director Alan Clarke. The firm stars the great Gary Oldman. Elephant was the inspiration for Gus Van Sant's fairly recent movie 'Elephant' which I also highly recommend. WWW.

Nil by Mouth (97): Actor Gary Oldman directs this simple, gritty little slice of lower class claustrophobic South London life. Starring Ray Winstone. Not bad at all.

Deception (08): Mainstream thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor. Just good B level fun.

Death at a Funeral (07): Not so great British comedy about a dysfunctional family at a funeral. Could have been worse.

Snow Angels (07): Sam Rockwell (one of my favorite American actors) gives his usual all in this quiet haunting drama of a 'domesticly disturbed' couple in a typical small town. WWW, LLI. Buyer beware.

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