Lee Just Watched:

Discussion of "'after life"has begun!

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 21:40:00 +0000

"You mean I can forget everything? Why that is heaven!"

The first time I watched 'after life' was with my mother years ago and we both loved it. When I created this blog and I was looking for my first film to post she and I thought of this one but could not remember the name of it. Last month I was lucky to come across it randomly while exploring .

I watched it with my partner David about a week ago and since then have found myself pondering the question that all the characters in the film had to answer. If I could choose only one memory to take with me into the after life (were I to believe in such a thing which I do not) what would that one memory be? As David and I hiked this last weekend through the wintery woods of New England we spent most of our time thinking about our lives and then sharing some of our peak moments. We then discussed whether we might choose one of these memories and if yes, no or possibly-why or why not?

Having spent many hours now searching for that"money shot" I can commiserate with the struggle that so many of the film's characters underwent to reach their conclusion. And they only had three days!

If any of you have thought about this since watching the movie would you care to share a part of that process with the rest of us? Do you think you would be able to narrow it down to one if push came to shove? Did you (or do you think you would?) find the effort painful, pleasurable or as in my case a mixture of both?

Any and all responses to this film on whatever level would be most appreciated.

Lee Just Watched (Aug 24 - Sep 10)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:33:00 +0000

1. Mr. Untouchable (07): DOC. Nicky Barnes the 'black godfather' of NYC drug traffiking 23 years ago speaks to us about his life and the scene as it was. Fascinating. WWW.

2. Late Marriage (01): Lior Ashkenazi of 'Walk on Water' stars in this Israeli film about a mid thirties man and his struggles regarding arranged marriage and family loyalty. Unusual and surprising. WWW.

3. Omar and Pete (05): Doc about two Baltimore drug addicts and their struggle to change their lives. Excellent.

4. Capturing the Friedmans (03): Doc about the Friedman family of Great Neck, NY and the sex abuse scandal they were at the center of in 1987. LLI, thought provoking. WWW.

5. The Grande Role (05): French, not so bad drama about an actor with a dying wife and his efforts to make her happy by letting her believe he has won a leading role in a great American film.

6. Teeth (06): A 'toothed vagina' is at the core of this great little feminist horror flick. WBTIE.

7. The Last Picture Show (1971): Believe it or not I never saw this Bogdanovich classic. LEM.

8. Picture This (1991): Interesting DOC about the making of 'The Last Picture Show'. WWW.

9. Surfwise (07): DOC about a wild sort of guy who had many many children and brought them up in a very unusual manner. Disturbing and compelling. NWIE. LLI. WWW.

10. Villa Paranoia (05): Wonderful Scandinavian flick by actor/director Erik Klausen. Young actress takes on the task of caretaker for seemingly dying mute old man. This film must be seen. The characters, the unexpected plot turns, everything about it is WWW. Serious, intense, but also hysterically funny, creative and joyous. Probably will end up on the blog.

11. Quid Pro Quo (08): A wheelchair bound reporter discovers a world of 'Wanabee Amputees'. Weird , not a great film by any stretch, but oddly satisfying.

12. Into the Arms of Strangers (07): B or C level pyschodrama about a man with amnesia unravelling his dangerous past. I tried to stop but ended up watching the whole movie. One of those so bad it was good sort of deals. (Don't bother...)

13. Ushpizin (05): Israeli film about a couple in a very religious community celebrating the holiday of Succoth. Strangers visit, mayhem ensues. I enjoyed learning about some of the interesting details of the culture and the holiday which even though I grew up Jewish I never knew. Very different. NWIE, WWW.

14. Anytown USA (05): Great DOC about a mayoral race in the little NJ town of Bogota. Hysterically funny and insightful look at small town politics. WWW.

15. Waiting For Happiness (02): Stunningly photographed film set in Mauritania. Quiet, gentle, and almost indescribable. LLI, BMM, WWW. I highly suggest this to anyone who loves the visual aspects of film making.

16. Reprise (06): Scandinavian, two young male writers are best friends trying to get published. What happens to them when they do? A good creative attempt that didn't result in a great film but still worth watching.

Lee Just Watched (Aug 9 - Aug 23)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:17:00 +0000

1. There Will be Blood (07): One of the most overated films of all time. Even Daniel Day Lewis could not save this one. TTHOMLINGB!

2.The Corner (2000): Excellent HBO dramatic miniseries about the lives of some Baltimore families involved in the selling and using of drugs. WWW.

3. Eyes of Night (03): Greek drama about three people who try to find love and happiness. It ain't easy. NTB (not too bad.)

4. Choking Man (06): Tough story of a young Ecuadorian dishwasher working in a NY restaurant. He is dangerously shy , abused by his father, and falls for a sympathtic Chinese waitress.
NTB (not too bad.)

5. Easy Street (06): Good DOC about individual homeless men and women who live in the 'homeless people friendly' town of St. Petersburg, Fla. WWW, BTIE.

6. Without the King (07): Informative DOC about Africa's last ruling monarchy in Swaziland. How power does corrupt...WWW, NWIE.

7. Duck (05): This is a brilliant and unusual movie about a man and a duck. LEM, BMM, EOS, WWW, DNA. Added to my top ten list!

8. Chop Shop (07): A young boy and his sister do their best to make a decent life for themselves while living and working in the 'Chop Shops' of the 'Iron Triangle' (auto body shops) just outside of Queens. . WWW.

9. Room 314 (06): I was very impressed with this adaptation of Michael Knowles stage play shot in five segments. Five couples spend an evening in a non-descript motel room. It seemed so damn real that it bordered on painful. NECOT. BTIE, BBPI.

10. Alex Grey-The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors(06): Alex grey, a NY artist, takes us through his unique lifesize artwork that explores the nature of self. The life size drawings are stunning. NECOT, but if you are into art I recommend this. BTIE.

11. Ralph Nader: An Unreasonable Man (06): Excellent DOC explores this highly influential and controversial man. WWW.

12. Deliver Us From Evil (06): Amy Berg's award winning DOC about the child abuser (rapist!) Father Oliver O'Grady and the conspiracy by the Cathlic Church to protect him and other molesters. Shocking interviews with O'Grady himself. LLI, BMH, Infuriating as hell.

13. El Bola (2000): Beautiful, painful Spanish drama. A young boy , terribly abused by his dad is befriended by a new classmate. The classmate's loving family takes him under their wing. Powerful . WWW, BMH, LLI.

14. The Outsider (06): DOC about screenwriter (Bugsy, The Gambler...) James Toback. I enjoyed this inside view of the filmaking process.

15. Starting Out In The Evening (07): An aging writer's (Frank Langella) life is changed when a young grad student convinces him to let her do her thesis on his work. I enjoyed it because I enjoy him. OKBNG.

Lee Just Watched (July 24 - Aug 8)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:15:00 +0000

1. The Bothersome Man (06): Billed as a Scandinavian black comedy. Man finds himself in a seemingly perfect but gray world. Is it heaven or hell? I found it intriguing.

2. Ira & Abby (06): Average not very believable romantic comedy. Not my favorite genre.

3. The King of Kong (07): FAH DOC that looks at the world of competitive video gaming. WBTIE, LEM,WWW.

4. Brother Born Again (01): DOC made by a young N.Y. woman who is struggling to understand her brother's choice to become a born again Christian and to live in an Alaskan farmhouse with a group of fellow believers. An interesting story , simply done without any unneccessary drama.

5. Persons Unknown (96): Unsatisfying thriller starring Joe Montagne.

6. Bright Leaves (03): Ross McElwee's DOC about his family's history as North Carolina Tobacco growers. WWW.

7. Fraulein (06): Great flick about three women from Yugoslavia who's lives intersect while working together at a cafe in Zurich. LEM, NWIE, WWW.

8. Goodnight, Joseph Parker (04): Successful neighborhood boy Joey Parker returns to the old NJ bar he used to haunt. Paul Sorvino plays the bar owner. Staged and filmed like a play, everything takes place in the bar. I liked it, OKBNG. My guess is NECOT.

9. Into the Wild (06): Sean Penn's adaptation of John Krakauer's book about an unusual young man who makes his way to the wild's of Alaska. True story and supposedly pretty accurate in the details. I had read the book when it first came out and was riveted. I expected the film to be a dissapointment but far from it. WBTIE. WWW.

10. The Witnesses (07): French drama that looks at the early days (1984) of the Aids epidemic through the lives of a small group of people. BTIE. Brought back the feelings of shock, confusion and terror that this new plague evoked as it made it's way into the mainstream.

11. This Film is Not Yet Rated (06): Rather preachy but informative DOC about the secret world of the MPAA, the group that rates (G,GP,R etc.)all American films.

12. Who Am I This Time? (82): PBS American Playhouse adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's wondeful short story stars a young Christopher Walken and Susan Sarandon. FAH.

13. Steven Wright: When th Leaves Blow Away (07): Standup comedy concert. OK if you are a Wright fan.

14. Autumn Hearts : A New Beginning (07): Based on the novel about three Nazi concentration camp survivors reuniting. Not perfect but WWW. Well acted by Susan Sarandon, Gabriel Byrne, Max Von Sydow and Christopher Plummer.

15. Grande Ecole (04): French film about a group of rich kids at elite business school in Paris. Looks at classism, racism, and homosexuality. OKBNG.

16. Never Forever (07): Provocative and thought provoking drama by director Gina Kim about some tough and bizarre choices made by an American woman married into a very religious Korean/American family. It will probably be put on the blog as I think it would lead to a dynamic and heated discussion. LLI.

Lee Just Watched (July 9 - July 23)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:13:00 +0000

1. The Willow Tree (05): Iranian director ('Children of Heaven') Majid Majidi wrote and directed this film about a blind man who regains his sight. The effect this has on him and his family is not what one would expect. I found it devestatingly painful to watch but it got me to thinking about a lot of things in my own life. WWW. Will probably end up on blog list.
2. The Ballad of Narayama (1984): Japanese. A group of villagers who are experiencing severe famine opt to send their elderly to Mt. Narayama to die. Wild stuff. WWW.
3. Rails and Ties (07): Poorly written film about a railway engineer and his wife who adopt the child of a suicide victim. WOT.(Waste of Time)
4. PU-239 (06): HBO adaptation of a short story about a Russian nuclear plant worker who is exposed to radiation. Follows his last days on earth. Should have been great but it tried to cover too many angles. A brave attempt but ultimately dissapointing.
5. My Best Friend (07): French light hearted fare. Successful business man tries to round up a best friend in 10 days to win a bet. He does. I'd skip it.
6. Lost in Bejing (07): Chinese female director Yu Li creates an interesting portrait of modern day Bejing as its entire socio-economic structure shifts gears. The story follows two couples and their very strange connection. LEM.
7. Protagonist (07) : Unique DOC that cleverly weaves simple talking head interviews with animation in the attempt to draw parallels between the lives of four men and the structure of Euripedes' Greek Tragedies. Successful or not? You be the judge! WWW, NWIE, WOTBP.
8. The Comedians of Comedy (06): Fun standup comedy.
9. Private Property (06): French film starring Isabelle Huppert in a powerfully understated performance as the mother of two difficult teen boys and their negative effect on her life.BBPI. WWW.
10, Cassandra's Dream (07): Woody Allen's latest screenplay does not deliver the goods. Stars Colin Farrel, Ewan Mcgregor and Tom Wilkinson so it should have been good. Sorry Woody. WOT.
11. Man With the Movie Camera (1929): Without a doubt one of the best films I have ever seen. Will be on the blog this fall. Soviet avante-garde director Dziga Vertov's take on all things Cinema as well as his surroundings. Stunning in every way. BMM, LLI, LEM, WOTBP.
12, La Vie en Rose (07): Bio of Edith Piaf. Great for Piaf fans which I happen to be. I didn't realize just how difficult this woman's life was, especially her sadly crippling arthritis. Makeup on the actress was startlingly good at showing her aging and infirmity.
13. Unveiled (05): Iranian lesbian flees persecution, seeks asylum in Germany disguised as a man. WWW. BTIE.
14. I'm the One That I Want (2000): Comedian Margaret Cho in concert. Speaks honestly about what it is like to be a woman in America. FAH.
15. The Notorious Cho (02): Comedian Margaret Cho in concert, FAH.
16. Strange Culture (06): DOC. Story of activist artist Steve Kurtz and his arrest for alleged bio-terrorism.
17. The Bridesmaid (04): French director Claude Chabrol wraps a riveting thriller around a seemingly typical love story. LEM.

Lee Just Watched (June 21 - July 8)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 22:07:00 +0000

1. Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars (05): DOC. Six musicians who are refugees's from Sierra Leone's civil war use music to express their feelings and to help other refugee's survive.
2. Love Songs (07): French. Unusual musical /film about a hip young couple involved in a three way romance. I dislike musicals overall but I enjoyed this. The plot wasn't of that much interest to me but somehow I enjoyed this in spite of myself!
3. Open Hearts (02): Danish director Susan Bier's disturbing film about a happily engaged couple who's lives change when the man becomes paralyzed in an accident. Stars Mads Mikkelson and Nikolaj Lie Kass. I always enjoy watching both of these talented actors. Biers is a powerhouse as usual.
4. Manda Bala (07): DOC. Brilliant, shocking look at modern Brazilian corruption. Very very odd. A frog farm and farmer, a plastic surgeon who specializes in rebuilding the cut off ears of kidnap victims, the kidnappers and the kidnapped.....photographed and interviewed in a way that left my mind spinning.Tough stuff, our world...BMM, LLI, BTIE, WWW.
5. Sweeney Todd (07): The Johnny Depp version, LEM!
6. La Sorpresa (07): Set in Mexico, a deadly love triangle. OKBNG.
7. The Castle (1997): Austrian film based on Franz Kafka's absurdist novel. If you love Kafka this will probably be fun. Starring Ulrich Muhe from 'The Lives of Others'.
8. The Wedding Party (05): Satirical take on a wedding day disaster. Interesting but ultimately unsatisfying as I had a hard time suspending my disbelief.
9. Angels in the Dust (07): DOC. Truly inspiring story of a South African middle class family who devote their lives to creating and maintaining an orphanage for around 500 children who's parents have died of Aids. I admire these people tremendously. Reminds me that there are good people in the world. WWW, DNA .
10. Desert Bayou (07): DOC. After Katrina 600 African Americans from New Orleans were flown to a military installation in Utah. This is their story.
11. I Like Killing Flies (04): DOC. Tells the story of the Shopsin family who have run a unique (to put it mildly) and highly successful Greenwich Village restaurant for over 30 years. They live and breath this business. Fascinating. FAH, LEM.
12. On a Clear Day(05): British. A fifty five year old working class man becomes 'redundant' and finds an outlet for his anger and depression by preparing to swim the English Channel. I expected it to be sappy and sentimental but was pleasantly surprised. (well, it is actually a bit sappy and sentimental but what the heck......) A lovely film. WWW.
13. A Double Tour (1961): French. A Claude Chabrol murder mystery. Not bad, liked the acting and the setting.
14. Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? (1977): German filmaker Fassbinder's critical take on the lives of the bourgeois. Based on actual events, Herr R. does indeed run amok. I liked it.

Lee Just Watched: June 7 -- June 20

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 21:00:00 +0000

1. Jackknife (1989): DeNiro and Ed Harris as Vietnam buddies home and trying to heal. Good performances.

2.Head On (1999): Young gay man in Greek/Australian community searches for his place in the world. Not very good.

3. Wheel of Time (03): Werner Herzog DOC about the Kalachakra Initiation ceremonies given to Buddhists by the Dalai Llama.

4. Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride (06): DOC about 'gonzo' counterculture journalist Hunter S. Thompson. Not bad.

5. The Bourne Ultimatum (07): Third movie made from Ludlum's novels. Fun if you like chase sequences.

6. Running on Karma (03): Disastrous Hong Kong genre melange starring Andy Lau. Truly horrible, I can't believe I actually watched the whole thing. GMAB. Shame on me!

7. My Father's Glory (1990): French. Beautifully told story based on the memoirs of french novelist/filmaker Marcel Pagnol. An adolescent boy recalls his magical summer vacation in Southern France in 1900. LEM, WWW.

8. The City of No Limits (03): French/Spanish. Spanish business titan is in the hospital dying. As his son investigates
his 'delusional' ramblings long held family secrets are revealed. Not bad.

9. Rize (05): Fantastic DOC introduces us to the history of 'Krumping' , a type of dancing culture that sprung up in South Central L.A. It starts with the story of a man named "Tommy the Clown' who began teaching this , getting kids off the street and changing many, many lives in the process. Great music, Great dancing, Great people. Inspirational. LEM, WWW, NWIE, WBTIE, LLI. I immediately bought the DVD!

10. The Dying Gaul (05): Riveting psychological thriller set in movie mogul land Hollywood. It is based on the play of the same name. A triangle forms between a producer, his wife, and the gay male screenwriter they get involved with. The ending is a flop which is too bad as this could have been a great film. Still, I liked it and it has stuck in my head and probably will continue to do so. Maybe they will redo it as most reviews agreed with me about the unsatisfying ending.!

11. Jupiter's Dance (06): DOC. An intriguing tour of the music scene in Kinshasa, capitol of Congo. The main character is Jupiter Bokodji of the band Okwess. The handmade guitars alone make this WWW.

12. Burning Annie (03): Poor romantic comedy about a kid who is obsessed with the film 'Annie Hall'.

13. Sand and Sorrow (07): DOC explaining the history that lead to the current day horrors in Darfur.

14. The Walker (07): Woody Harrelson is a gay 'Walker' for the elite elder ladies of Washington D.C. Murders, backstabbing etc. Not good at all but it was fun to see Lauren Bacall and Lilly Tomlin again.

15. Keiller's Park (06): Swedish director Susanna Edwards film inspired by true events. A young successful business heir who is engaged to be married, falls in love with a FASCINATING male character played by Pjotr Gigo. He struggles with all the losses he has to bear and then is accused of..(i won't give away the plot). The two men are played brilliantly and I found it hard to believe that they were not real! I surely hope to see more of Mr. Gigo in the future, he is mesmerizing. The director says this is the first in a trilogy of films. Let's hope so! Be aware, there is lots of sex. EOS, LEM, LLI,, NECOT.

16. Films I tried but couldn't sit through:
-Yes (04)
-Nightbreed (90)
-The World (04)
-The Dark Backward (91)
-The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (87)
-You are Alone (06)

Lee Just Watched: May 24 - June 6

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 20:55:00 +0000

American Gangster (07): Typical Denzel Washington vehicle. Formula to the max. If it hadn't been based on a true story it would have been useless to me.

Attenborough in Paradise Disc 2 (96): Can't gush enough about what this man and his work mean to me. One section is a DOC about his professional history from youth, thru formative years, in charge of BBC2, and his mind boggling influence on the developement of nature films. Must see if you are a fan. WWW.

No Country For Old Men (o7): Coen brothers hit the mark. LEM, especially Javier Bardem's character. The dialogue was brilliant and I'd like to read the book and see how close the dialogue was to the original. WBTIE.

My Kid Could Paint That (o7): Interesting DOC about a 4 yr old 'painter' and what happens to her family as her work becomes known. Coming up on our list to watch.

Wristcutters:A Love Story (06): A fantastical tale of a world populated by people who committed suicide. Pleasant but not great. CFE.

Climates (06): Pretentious, self absorbed over rated 'art' film from Turkey. Yawn Yawn Yawn.

Spiral (07): Mom and I watched this thriller together. We thought it was brilliantly crafted (unlike the majority of reviews we read!) The guy who wrote it stars as well. A talented young crew of friends put it together on a very restricted budget. Bravo! ( This may go on the list, definitely OTBP!) SOD, EOS, LEM, WWW.

Death of a Cyclist (1955): Spanish metaphorical drama (corrupt politics during the Franco era) about a cheating couple who hit a cyclist and are blackmailed. OKBNG.

The Dead Girl (06): Mystery set in an L.A .community. Young girl found dead in a field. Four separate stories converge to find the answers. Unique and well done. Pretty chilling segment involving the killer and his wife!

Harsh Times (05): Christian Bale in his usual intense acting style pulls off what otherwise would have been just way too much violence for my taste. However I was glad I finished it .The ending was surprisingly satisfying and it was a well done and off beat 'buddy story'. NECOT but if you are a Bale fan it's worth watching.

Subway Stories (97): A set of 'true' stories put to film. (sent in to HBO by NYC subway commuters.) Not terrible but not worth watching.

The Number 23 (07): Jim Carrey in another weird psychological thriller. OKBNG. I confess I do enjoy watching his face and body.

Stray Dog (49): Early Kurosawa film starring T. Mifune. About a young new police recruit in Tokyo who has his gun stolen on a crowded bus and the journey he takes to recover it. OKBNG.

Triple Agent (04): Film by French New Wave director Eric Rohmer about a Russian couple living in Paris. Hitchcock like plot and style. Wife slowly learns the truth about what her husband is involved in. OKBNG.

Family Nest (79): Blk & wht cinema verite style Hungarian film. Shows the tensions that a seven member family experience while living in a tiny apartment during a time of exteme housing shortage in communist ruled Hungary.

Gypo (05): British lower middle class family experiences a catharsis after a young Czech female refugee comes into their lives. I liked the direct and gritty way this film approached the subject matter of prejudice, marriage, friendship. WWW.

Lee Just Watched: May 10th - 23rd

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sat, 24 May 2008 19:39:00 +0000

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.

Lee Just Watched (Mar 28 - Apr 11)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:11:00 +0000

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.

Lee Just Watched: April 26 - May 9

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sat, 10 May 2008 20:33:00 +0000

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.

Lee Just Watched (Apr 12 - Apr 25)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 16:12:00 +0000

1. Crossing the Line (07): DOC about four American GIs who defected to North Korea . Interesting, WWW

2. Love in the Time of Cholera (07): Based on the novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez which I loved. I was wary of the film, but happily surprised. WBTIE.

3. Flannel Pajamas (06): Romantic indie drama about the evolution and dissolution of a relationship. CFE.

4. All About My Mother (1999): Spanish director Pedro Almodovar knocks it out of the park. Remember 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' (1988)? And again in (o4) with 'Talk to Her'? Always a treat.......

5. The Nines (07): Unusual film done in three acts. BMM. I think WWW but my guess is NECOT.

6. On and Off the Rails (07): British DOC. , compilation of British short docs about the railway system since its inception. Good if you are fascinated by trains.

7. Bombay (1995):Indian, NMCOT, I just can't get past the Bollywood dubbed singing and dancing to wait for the plot....

8. The Pact of Silence (03): French, Gerard Depardieu plays Jesuit priest who loses his career by getting involved with mysterious twins....I love him so I LEM. Good thriller that kept me guessing. EOS.

9. Onibaba (1965): Japanese director Kaneto Shindu's blk&wht tale set in wartorn medieval Japan. LEM, LLI, WWW.

10. Monsieur Ibrahim (03): French, set in 60's working class nieghborhood in Paris. Teenager bonds with local shopkeeper. LEM, LLI, WWW.

11. Mahangar (1963): Indian, 1960's explores the impact of feminism on one working class family. I loved all the characters and found this delightful. WWW.

Lee Just Watched (Mar 29 - Apr 11)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:10:00 +0000

1. Atlantic Records: House That Ahmet Built (07): DOC, the story of how Ahmet built the R&B record label starting in 1947 thru today. Brilliant man, fascinating subject. WWW.

2. Come and See (1985): Russian, war story, NMCOT

3. Green Chair (05): Korean, married housewife and 19 year old minor have affair. CFE, OKBNG

4. Hana & Alice (04): Japanese, teenagers and their loves and friendships. OKBNG, CFE

5. Mongolian Ping Pong (05): Mongolian, well photographed, pretty, didn't capture me but other's might like it....

6. Attenborough in Paradise (96): compilation of his different travels when younger. Fascinating as always!!!WWW.

7. Kiss-Kiss Dahlings (92): plays by Wendy Wasserstein. I've seen enough of her plays now to say without hesitation that I dislike her work intensely.

8. Deep Water (06): Gripping DOC about the 1969 London Times sponsored around the world yacht race, focusing mainly on a man named Donald Crowhurst. WWW. EOS, LLI, LEM, WBTIE.

9. Even Money (06): Modern attempt at film noir, very dissapointing, stopped watching.

10. Clean (04): French, OKBNG story of a drug addict and her efforts to get clean and have her child back. The main characters were interesting so I enjoyed it.

11. The Real Dirt on Farmer John (06): Great DOC about farmer John Peterson of Illinois. His story from childhood, into the wild 60's, thru current day organic farming. WWW, LEM, NWIE, WBTIE, FAH,LLI.

12. The End of Suburbia (04): Well executed DOC about the creation of suburbia in America, it's questionable future, can it continue to exist without cheap energy? WWW.

13. Things We Lost in the Fire (07): Suzanne Bier of 'Brother's' and 'After the Wedding' directed but did not write this somewhat self indulgent script about ...hmmm, relationships, addiction, change, ...I love her Danish fims but this annoyed me a little. Rich folks angst for me is always a tricky subject. Part of me simply does not care....unless the material is handled really well.

14. Cocaine Angel (06): I just love this tiny little movie! A simple film following a period of days in the life of a cocaine addict who lives in Jacksonville, Fla. The main character also wrote the script. WBTIE, WWW, LLI. Something about his character was so totally endearing and unexpected.
I liked him so much that I lost my usual sense of judgement about his lifestyle. Dark and humorous at the same time. Probably NECOT.

Lee Just Watched (March 14-28)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 01:45:00 +0000

1. Joy (05): Lovely film set in Tel Aviv about a heavy young woman , her family and some of the issues they come to terms with . Uplifting and lots of fun. WWW (see Key)
2. Pack of Lies (1978): Loved this British thriller starring Ellen Burstyn, Alan Bates and Teri Garr. NWIE,EOS,WWW
3. Tickets (05): 3 stories by 3 directors that take place on a train ride in Europe. OKBNG, CFE
4. Tattoed Flower Vase (1976): Strange, erotic, 'pink' film from Japan. NMCOT
5. The Man From Earth (07): Dissapointing sci fi scripted by Jerome Bixby of Star Trek and Twilight Zone fame. Maybe a better director would have done the script justice.
6. Angel-A (07): French director Luc Bresson of 'La Femme Nikita' fame. Slick and uniquely filmed in blk & wht. Loved the 2 main characters but the story itself is not so good. Still worth watching in spite as the shots of Paris are truly stunning! (I think it would be better with the sound off.)
7. Demonlover (02): Another slick (but not as good) French film . A thriller, about website horrors. I got hooked into it. ( But remember, I liked 'Feed' ..) Ultimately disturbing. Unfortunately I can't get the final scene out of my head. NECOT
8. Adam's apple (05): Very odd but ultimately endearing black comedy about a Utopian clergyman starring a whole lot of my favorite Danish actors. Worth it just to see them!
9. Punish Me (05): German. We were totally into this movie. However, my guess is it's NECOT. About a middle aged parole officer and her 16 yr old charge. Wow wow and wow. WWW, EOS, LLI, WBTIE.
10. F**K (06):DOC that S**ked.
11. Inside North Korea (06): National Geographic DOC. About the JSA, the people etc. The truth is more horrible than I would have ever known. BMM, LLI. Must see.
12. The Boss of it All (06): Danish. Sardonic comedy about a corporation headed by a ficticious CEO. Light and not at all bad.
13. Curb Your Enthusiasm (06): I loved the first 5 years of this HBO series, but this season has a few clunkers. Still, Larry David is just a kick to watch.
14. Blind Beast (1969): Now here is a cult classic! Yasuzo Masumura ('Giants and Toys') has created an erotic , chilling masterpiece in this blck & wht wonder. WWW, LLI, NECOT

Lee Just Watched (Feb. 29th - March 14th)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:58:00 +0000

1. MAGNIFICENT DESOLATION (05): IMAX about the moon landings.
2. WAITRESS (07): Waitresses in a small town, their lives and changes. ok, not great.
3. WHEN NIETZCHE WEPT(07): The fake European accents were so horrible I could not watch it.
4. GIANTS AND TOYS (58): 2nd film directed by Yasuko Masumura , satirical critique of corporate culture in postwar Japan, set amongst rival caramel candy corporations. Liked it very much, going to watch more by him.
5. VENGEANCE IS MINE (79): by director of 'EEL'. NMCOT
6. KOLYA (96): Wonderful film set in Czech around time of the 89 'Velvet Revolution'. Highly recommend.
7. CRAZY LOVE (07): NWIE, BTIE, totally immersing DOC about a couple obsessed with each other in 1950s New York. True story that got lots of headlines and coverage. EOS!
8. PEOPLE'S PALACE (06): DOC about the history of the New York Public Library, from its inception thru today. Informative and enjoyable.
9. LOOKING FOR RICHARD (96): Must see, it's on our discussions to come list!!!!!
10. COCAINE COWBOY (06): DOC, 1980's cocaine trafficking boom in Miami and how it changed the city forever. LEM.
11. SINK OR SWIM (90): shorts of Su Friedrich's childhood. Didn't engage me personally.
12. A TASTE OF TEA (04): lovely little film , quiet, about a unique family and their day to day lives in a Japanese town.

Lee Just Watched (Feb 15th thru Feb 29th)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 01:11:00 +0000

1. Zerophilia (05): Unamusing indep. about teen with gender issues. GMAB.
2. Once (06): Endearing story of young street musicians trying to make it and getting to know themselves, ( I thought I'd hate it...) set in contemporary Dublin, Ireland. Playing all their original music and its not bad! WBTIE.(way better than I expected)
3. The Invisible (07): Supernatural thriller, American, Not good at all.
4.13 Tzametti (07) thriller, Not good at all.
5. After Innocence (05): Powerhouse DOC exploring the lives of inocent people who were jailed for years and released after new dna evidence. Disturbing as hell. Highly recommend.
6. Shelf Life (06): FAH , tiny, odd, black humor, about a library, two young women and a guy who work there. If it sounds like YCOT (your cup of tea)! see it and find out what happens!
7. The Call of Cthulhu(05): Lord knows, couldn't pay attention long enuf to find out.
8. Intacto (01): Highly imperfect but intriguing supernatural thriller with Max Von Sydow playing a concentr. camp surv. who lives in a casino basement on a resort spanish Isle and trades, buys, and sells LUCK. I liked a lot of it and could not get myself to stop watching (no matterhow much i tried!) as I found the concept interesting.
9. The Typists (released in 02) 1 hour play, shot in one room with 2 characters. Played with enviable talent by real life married couple Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. Very very good, LLI. About the passing of time in the lives of 2 coworkers in a mundane office job. (part of the Broadway Theatre Archives...)
10. Take My Eyes (05): French, unsatisfying film about a woman who leaves but is still in love with her abusive husband. Perhaps someone else might like it but NMCOT.
11. Cowboy Del Amor (05): FAH DOC about a Texan man who has made a living as a matchmaker, connecting American men and Mexican women. Well done in every way, and this guy is a kick!! NWIE, and WBTIE .
Check it out for sure.
12. Czech Dream (03): Thought provoking and highly entertaining DOC about the power of advertising. Two filmakers set up a huge fake ad campaign in the Czech Republic with amazing results!
13 . Broken English (07) Indep. Parker Posey vehicle, NMCOT, but not totally unpleasant.

I Just Watched (Jan 19 - Feb 14)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 02:08:00 +0000

1. Manufacturing Dissent (2007) Interesting doc dissecting the work and backround of director Michael Moore.
2. Red Road (2006) Not very interesting thriller made in Scotland.
3. The Treatment (2006) American romantic comedy. NMCOT (see KEY )
4. White Rainbow (2005) Another film about the Indian "City of Widows', Vrindavan, where many Hindu widows of all ages go to live.
5. Girl 27 (2007) Great doc about a Hollywood scandal in 1937 when an underage dancer was raped at an MGM stag party.
6. Earth (1998) Dissapointing movie by Deepa Mehta, the director of 'Water', showing some of the events of the civil war between Pakistan & India in 1947 thru the eyes of a young girl. I stopped watching halfway thru.
7. The Method (2005) FAH ! (see KEY) A group of candidates are competing for the same executive position in a large firm in Madrid, Spain. Set pretty much in one room. Check it out.
8. Slings & Arrows (season 2) Canadian tv series , LOVE it!!!!
9. Hunger ((1966) I recommend this unusual Danish drama, set in 1890's Norway. Looks into the life of a starving writer who won't accept charity. NWIE (see KEY)
10. Pierrepoint (2005) He was one of Britain's most notorious executioners. This film is based on the real events and life of a man who was working as an executioner for the gov't while living a public life as a grocery deliverman. Highly recommend.
11. Read My Lips (2001) French thriller. Good character study with lots of cool plot surprises.
12.Interview (2006) I usually like anything with Steve Buscemi but this....GMAB (see KEY).
13. Big Love (season 2) Fun HBO series about Mormon polygamists.

I Just Watched (Jan 1 - Jan 18)

noreply@blogger.com (Lee Paris) — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:35:00 +0000

1. READ MY LIPS (2001) Good basic French thriller (CFE)
2. BURNT BY THE SUN (1994) Russian drama, couldn't sink my teeth into it at all.
3. RATCATCHER (1998) The effects of child poverty set inScotland during the 1970's garbage strike. OK but not great.
4. GOD GREW TIRED OF US (2006) Doc about theSudanese 'LostBoys' as they move from their refugee camp in Kenya to anew life is the USA. (LLI) Highly recommend!
5. UNKNOWN WHITE MALE (2005) Doc about a 30ish man from England who wakes up on NY subway with complete amnesia. Is it bullshit? Check it out, I found it interesting.
6. OCEAN'S ELEVEN (2001) not my thang.......
7. 300 (2007) Unbearable. But I have friends who's opinion I respect who liked it, so maybe I'm off on this one.
8. ROME (HBO series, season 2) Loved every second of it. (though historically inaccurate on many details..) As for Marc Antony, WOW. The characters are so well developed that for me they will have (LLI). Overall, just (FAH)!
9. HELVETICA (2007) Doc about "'the most popular FONT in the world"'. Flawed as a film but cool people interviewed and very interesting information. I'll never look at typeface in the same way again....
10. INLAND EMPIRE (2006) David Lynch's newest. 3 hours of not my thang......
11. STEEL TOES (2006) Neo-nazi skin head murderer goes head to head with his Jewish lawyer. Very flawed and preachy, but the kid was good.
12. THE KING (2005) William Hurt is a pastor who's past, in the form of a sociopathic son, comes to ruin him and his family. Pretty chilling actually!
13. THE NAMESAKE (2006) Story of a young guy from India, living in NY/NJ. Identity issues. Mediocre, some fun moments.
14. PLAQUES AND PLEASURES ON THE SALTON SEA ((2004) Doc narrated by John Waters about massive S. Cal. lake created in the desert by mistake a century ago. For a while it became a resort for the rich, now a neglected location, WAY off the beaten path. Unique community and quite a story!!!! Recommend watching.