In the previous post, I briefly mentioned having seen Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon in a theater. Watching it on the big screen began a five film (and growing) streak of excellent films without any crappy films getting in the way. Said films are: The Testament of Dr. Mabuse, Stray Dog, The Battleship Potemkin, and Drunken Angel.
The Testament of Dr. Mabuse
Fritz Lang's follow-up to M (one of the greatest films ever made...ever), is the story of a mad doctor who finds a way to circumnavigate his imprisonment. Like in Lang's previous film, the director utilizes the, then new, medium of sound film to its fullest. An exciting film of crime and passion, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse is a fine piece of cinema, and an engaging film noir.
Stray Dog
Akira Kurowsawa's film noir follows the misfortune of a young detective named Murakami in search of his stolen pistol. Kurosawa masterfully presents an intriguing film with top notch performances by Toshirō Mifune as the unfortunate detective, and Takashi Shimura as a sage detective that guides Mifune's "Murakami".
The Battleship Potemkin
Sergei Eisenstein's Russian silent film about the revolution against the Tsarist regime. There is something incredible about being able to sit and watch a film from what was most certainly a different time. With their world embroiled in the aftermath of revolution and civil war, I can't begin to imagine what the souls who watched The Battleship Potemkin during its intial theatrical release in Soviet Union felt upon seeing it. However, after watching it, I can understand how The Battleship Potemkin became such an influential film in cinema and life.
Drunken Angel
Before Stray Dog, Rashomon, Seven Samurai, and many other excellent film collaborations, Akira Kurosawa teamed up with Takashi Shimura and Toshirō Mifune in Drunken Angel. Kurosawa's tale of the seedy world of the Yakuza is an exciting film that showcases wonderful performances from the cast, including Shimura and Mifune, whose chemistry carries great dramatic weight. To see the beginning of one of the most influential of film collaborations is rewarding, and its a good film, too.
Next time, Danish film Just Another Love Story, Czech film Closely Watched Trains, and Russian films Ballad of A Soldier, The Cranes Are Flying, Wings, and The Ascent.
20 September, 2009
05 September, 2009
Take A Bite
In between watching the third season of Dexter on dvd, the first three seasons of Psych on dvd, and watching the US Open, I've tried to watch films. However, in a little less than a month, I've only managed to watch seven. Those seven films include a viewing of Into Great Silence on dvd, re-watching PTU on dvd, watching Clean on dvd, watching Inglourious Basterds, The Hurt Locker, 500 Days of Summer, & Rashomon on the big screen. For descriptions/summaries/reviews of any of these films, look somewhere else. For tiny-length thoughts from me on these films, keep reading.
Into Great Silence
A great documentary that is as interesting as it is long.
PTU
Excellent Johnnie To directed neo-noir.
Clean
Olivier Assayas directs Maggie Cheung in a superb film.
Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino's latest is a bloated film with unnecessary violence and cartoonish cinematography. The depiction of the characters' inhumanity in the film was disgusting and insulting. The film lacked originality, and a good plot. One of the worst films I've ever seen. Tarantino's affinity for Eli Roth and his pseudo-snuff films, has made his own work intolerable. Maybe one day Tarantino will create a good film that isn't an unauthorized remake or mashup of his favorite scenes. Probably not.
The Hurt Locker
Director Kathryn Bigelow returns to the big screen with what is quite possibly the best film of 2009.
500 Days of Summer
Like a feature-length episode of Scrubs. Unfortunately, I don't mean that in a good way. The fractured narrative of 500 Days is a little too similar to the "Bed, Banter & Beyond" episode of Scrubs; except neither Joseph Gordon-Levitt nor Zooey Deschanel are as good as Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke in handling the dramatic-comedic mix. 500 Days of Summer is a lazy, derivative flick that feels forced and flat throughout. If you feel a compulsory need to see this type of story, check out the aformentioned episode of Scrubs instead.
Rashomon
Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is one of the greatest films ever made. Sure, I've watched it a few dozen times on dvd, but seeing it on the big screen was incredible.
Next time: Longer descriptions/reviews of films?
Into Great Silence
A great documentary that is as interesting as it is long.
PTU
Excellent Johnnie To directed neo-noir.
Clean
Olivier Assayas directs Maggie Cheung in a superb film.
Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino's latest is a bloated film with unnecessary violence and cartoonish cinematography. The depiction of the characters' inhumanity in the film was disgusting and insulting. The film lacked originality, and a good plot. One of the worst films I've ever seen. Tarantino's affinity for Eli Roth and his pseudo-snuff films, has made his own work intolerable. Maybe one day Tarantino will create a good film that isn't an unauthorized remake or mashup of his favorite scenes. Probably not.
The Hurt Locker
Director Kathryn Bigelow returns to the big screen with what is quite possibly the best film of 2009.
500 Days of Summer
Like a feature-length episode of Scrubs. Unfortunately, I don't mean that in a good way. The fractured narrative of 500 Days is a little too similar to the "Bed, Banter & Beyond" episode of Scrubs; except neither Joseph Gordon-Levitt nor Zooey Deschanel are as good as Zach Braff and Sarah Chalke in handling the dramatic-comedic mix. 500 Days of Summer is a lazy, derivative flick that feels forced and flat throughout. If you feel a compulsory need to see this type of story, check out the aformentioned episode of Scrubs instead.
Rashomon
Akira Kurosawa's Rashomon is one of the greatest films ever made. Sure, I've watched it a few dozen times on dvd, but seeing it on the big screen was incredible.
Next time: Longer descriptions/reviews of films?
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