I forgot to update, again. Sorry, October. Expect an update this week, as I will be watching Matthew Leutwyler's newest film, The River Why.
Feel free to follow me @monkeytailor on Twitter for more timely film thoughts.
06 November, 2011
28 September, 2011
Vroom, vroom
Going for a third viewing of Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive." I'll post my thoughts on it and a few other films this week.
21 September, 2011
"Drive Time"
I'm watching a trio of films (Drive, Warrior and Straw Dogs) in theater today. I'll post my thoughts on them later this week. For now, follow my tweets about the films all day @monkeytailor.
03 September, 2011
Prizefighter
This time, another film I'm looking forward to seeing. Also, I ramble a bit about filmic excitement. Enjoy.
Kim Ki-duk's Amen
Just after having his (then) newest film, Arirang, released, Kim Ki-duk has another new film touring the festival circuit. The synposis for said film, Amen, is as follows: "the bizarre, disturbing journey of a young Korean girl who comes to Europe to search for someone she has to follow to Venice and Avignon. A mysterious character who hides behind a gas mask follows her everywhere and harasses her all the time." It reads like an interesting film, and knowing Kim's previous works, I'm sure it will be intriguing, if nothing else.
Releasing another film hot on the trail of his documentary, Arirang, means Kim is a busy man. Such an incredible director being back at work with a quick succession of films following a self-imposed exile from the world of cinema is exciting.
When I look at this year's releases, with two films (Arirang, Amen) from Kim, a new film (The Day He Arrives) from Hong Sangsoo and a second (untitled) in production, two films (The River Why, Answers to Nothing) being released by Director Matthew Leutwyler, and a bevy of films from many other top directors, I can't help but feel extremely excited. This year and 2012 may be the best years for quality films in...ever.
Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Amen
Kim Ki-duk's Amen
Just after having his (then) newest film, Arirang, released, Kim Ki-duk has another new film touring the festival circuit. The synposis for said film, Amen, is as follows: "the bizarre, disturbing journey of a young Korean girl who comes to Europe to search for someone she has to follow to Venice and Avignon. A mysterious character who hides behind a gas mask follows her everywhere and harasses her all the time." It reads like an interesting film, and knowing Kim's previous works, I'm sure it will be intriguing, if nothing else.
Releasing another film hot on the trail of his documentary, Arirang, means Kim is a busy man. Such an incredible director being back at work with a quick succession of films following a self-imposed exile from the world of cinema is exciting.
When I look at this year's releases, with two films (Arirang, Amen) from Kim, a new film (The Day He Arrives) from Hong Sangsoo and a second (untitled) in production, two films (The River Why, Answers to Nothing) being released by Director Matthew Leutwyler, and a bevy of films from many other top directors, I can't help but feel extremely excited. This year and 2012 may be the best years for quality films in...ever.
Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Amen
26 August, 2011
Let the Bullets Fly
As promised, my thoughts on Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly. Enjoy.
Let the Bullets Fly
Directed by Jiang Wen, starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
As a conman (Ge) and his wife (Lau) travel through the countryside, they are attacked by a wanted man (Jiang) and his group of bandits. To save their lives, the couple makes a deal with the bandit leader to allow him in on their next con: pretending to be governor and governess of an affluent town. The bandit agrees to the proposal, provided he plays governor.
Once they arrive at (the supposedly ripe for the taking) Goose Town, they run into a couple of problems. Firstly, most of the town is poor; secondly, the reason for their financial state is local Godfather Huang (Chow). The bandits must play an intricate game of intrigue with Huang and his men in order to secure their goal.
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly is an Eastern Western. Like an good Western, there is plenty of gunplay, as well as pretty clear cut good and bad guys. For anyone that knows anything about Hong Kong or Chinese cinema, it goes without saying that the acting is excellent. For those that don't know about either of those cinemas, the acting is excellent. So, too, is the direction.
Jiang's film is a great blend of action and comedy, as well as hidden meanings within nearly every line and act that unfolds onscreen. Whether it be a comment on society, his home country, cinema or something else is up for interpretation; however, the underlying meanings never weigh the film down. For discerning film fans, there is plenty to engage, and, for the casual film goer, it's a really exciting film.
So, in case it isn't already obvious, Let the Bullets Fly is something I highly recommend.
Let the Bullets Fly
Directed by Jiang Wen, starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
As a conman (Ge) and his wife (Lau) travel through the countryside, they are attacked by a wanted man (Jiang) and his group of bandits. To save their lives, the couple makes a deal with the bandit leader to allow him in on their next con: pretending to be governor and governess of an affluent town. The bandit agrees to the proposal, provided he plays governor.
Once they arrive at (the supposedly ripe for the taking) Goose Town, they run into a couple of problems. Firstly, most of the town is poor; secondly, the reason for their financial state is local Godfather Huang (Chow). The bandits must play an intricate game of intrigue with Huang and his men in order to secure their goal.
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly is an Eastern Western. Like an good Western, there is plenty of gunplay, as well as pretty clear cut good and bad guys. For anyone that knows anything about Hong Kong or Chinese cinema, it goes without saying that the acting is excellent. For those that don't know about either of those cinemas, the acting is excellent. So, too, is the direction.
Jiang's film is a great blend of action and comedy, as well as hidden meanings within nearly every line and act that unfolds onscreen. Whether it be a comment on society, his home country, cinema or something else is up for interpretation; however, the underlying meanings never weigh the film down. For discerning film fans, there is plenty to engage, and, for the casual film goer, it's a really exciting film.
So, in case it isn't already obvious, Let the Bullets Fly is something I highly recommend.
25 August, 2011
Something to Look Forward To-night
This time it is an abbreviated post about a film I'm looking forward to seeing. The film: Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly. I actually have this film sitting at home and will be watching it tonight, so check back for my thoughts on it sometime tomorrow.
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
The newest film from "Sixth Generation" Chinese Director Jiang Wen is an action-comedy. As if the fact that Jiang directed it isn't enough, Let the Bullets Fly stars Jiang, as well as heavyweights from Hong Kong in Chow Yun-fat and Carina Lau, and from China, Ge You. With a talented cast and a top notch director, Let the Bullets Fly is something to be excited about sight-unseen.
Jiang Wen's Filmography:
In the Heat of the Sun
Devils on the Doorstep
The Sun Also Rises
Let the Bullets Fly
Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly
Starring Chow Yun-fat, Jiang Wen, Ge You and Carina Lau.
The newest film from "Sixth Generation" Chinese Director Jiang Wen is an action-comedy. As if the fact that Jiang directed it isn't enough, Let the Bullets Fly stars Jiang, as well as heavyweights from Hong Kong in Chow Yun-fat and Carina Lau, and from China, Ge You. With a talented cast and a top notch director, Let the Bullets Fly is something to be excited about sight-unseen.
Jiang Wen's Filmography:
In the Heat of the Sun
Devils on the Doorstep
The Sun Also Rises
Let the Bullets Fly
23 August, 2011
What's What
Here is another post about films I'm looking forward to seeing. This time it's two films from the same person, American Director Matthew Leutwyler. The films: The River Why and Answers to Nothing.
Back in October of 2008 I wrote my first post about films I look forward to seeing. One of those films was The River Why. Here's what I posted:
"The River Why
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler (Road Kill, This Space Between Us, Dead & Breakfast, Unearthed), starring people.
What it is:
The latest film from Matthew Leutwyler, based on the acclaimed novel The River Why.
Why I'm excited:
Matthew Leutwyler is one of my favorite directors, and directed one of my favorite films, This Space Between Us. Since making that film, he went on to make the excellent horror comedy Dead & Breakfast, and the less than spectacular horror flick Unearthed. I've been waiting for Leutwyler to return to the director chair with an intelligent, thoughtful film for years. While Leutwyler is an incredibly gifted filmmaker that has created two brilliant films, I think the best of his work has yet to be made, and I believe that he has the ability to become one of the greatest directors of our time."
----Back in 0'11, it hasn't seen anything beyond festivals and a very limited theatrical release. The film stars Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, Kathleen Quinlan and William Hurt. I've been waiting, rather impatiently, to see those actors in The River Why for nearly three years. Finally, the wait is nearly over. On November 8TH of this year, it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD. For me, November 8TH can't come soon enough.
That brings us to the second Matthew Leutwyler film of 2011, Answers to Nothing. As luck would have it, Answers to Nothing will reportedly see a nationwide theatrical released on December 2ND, less than a month after The River Why comes out on home video. The film is about the intertwining of lives during a search for a missing child. Answers to Nothing stars Dane Cook, Elizabeth Mitchell, Julie Benz, Barbara Hershey, Zach Gilford, Erik Palladino, Kali Hawk and Miranda Bailey. Needless to say, I'm excited about the last two months of this year.
Matthew Leutwyler's Filmography:
Road Kill
This Space Between Us
Dead & Breakfast
Unleashed
The River Why
Answers to Nothing
Back in October of 2008 I wrote my first post about films I look forward to seeing. One of those films was The River Why. Here's what I posted:
"The River Why
Directed by Matthew Leutwyler (Road Kill, This Space Between Us, Dead & Breakfast, Unearthed), starring people.
What it is:
The latest film from Matthew Leutwyler, based on the acclaimed novel The River Why.
Why I'm excited:
Matthew Leutwyler is one of my favorite directors, and directed one of my favorite films, This Space Between Us. Since making that film, he went on to make the excellent horror comedy Dead & Breakfast, and the less than spectacular horror flick Unearthed. I've been waiting for Leutwyler to return to the director chair with an intelligent, thoughtful film for years. While Leutwyler is an incredibly gifted filmmaker that has created two brilliant films, I think the best of his work has yet to be made, and I believe that he has the ability to become one of the greatest directors of our time."
----Back in 0'11, it hasn't seen anything beyond festivals and a very limited theatrical release. The film stars Zach Gilford, Amber Heard, Kathleen Quinlan and William Hurt. I've been waiting, rather impatiently, to see those actors in The River Why for nearly three years. Finally, the wait is nearly over. On November 8TH of this year, it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD. For me, November 8TH can't come soon enough.
That brings us to the second Matthew Leutwyler film of 2011, Answers to Nothing. As luck would have it, Answers to Nothing will reportedly see a nationwide theatrical released on December 2ND, less than a month after The River Why comes out on home video. The film is about the intertwining of lives during a search for a missing child. Answers to Nothing stars Dane Cook, Elizabeth Mitchell, Julie Benz, Barbara Hershey, Zach Gilford, Erik Palladino, Kali Hawk and Miranda Bailey. Needless to say, I'm excited about the last two months of this year.
Matthew Leutwyler's Filmography:
Road Kill
This Space Between Us
Dead & Breakfast
Unleashed
The River Why
Answers to Nothing
21 August, 2011
Fright Night
Here are my thoughts on the remake of Fright Night. Though it isn't a film that relies on surprise, and anyone who has seen the original already knows the story, I'll try to be spoiler free since it is a new release. Here goes:
Fright Night
Directed by Craig Gillespie, starring Antony Yelchin, Colin Farell, David Tennant and Imogen Poots.
Charlie Brewster (Yelchin) is a normal teenager trying to make it through high school. In order to get Amy (Poots), the girl of his dreams, Charlie has shunned his nerdy childhood habits and friends. Everything is fine in the little world he's created until an old friend goes missing, and another claims Charlie's new neighbor Jerry (Farell) is to blame, because Jerry is a vampire.
Charlie dismisses the notion that a vampire moved in next door, but begins to suspect something isn't right when his seemingly paranoid friend turns up missing. Brewster soon learns the truth and enlists the aide of Peter Vincent (Tennant), Vampire Slayer, to combat the evil that has infested his town.
Kind of a bland description, but there are some things in Fright Night best seen, rather than read. Suffice it to say, Fright Night is good. While pacing issues and Antony Yelchin's flatness as Charlie Brewster hold the film back from being the greatest film ever, Fright Night does have some aces up its proverbial sleeve. Those aces: Colin Farell, David Tennant, humor and Imogen Poots.
Farell makes for a super cool vampire, so much so I almost rooted for Jerry the Vampire. What keeps the good guys in a favorable light is Tennant's extremely entertaining version Vegas Showman/Vampire Slayer Peter Vincent. Tennant's just-under over-the-top performance is riotously funny.
Like the original horror-comedy from the 80's, Fright Night is more comedy than horror. The humor provided, mostly, by Tennant's character is essential to Fright Night. Without it, the film would be a bland pseudo-horror remake. However, Marti Nixon's script balances the horror and comedy terrifically. The other piece to the puzzle is Imogen Poots. Every horror film has a hot chick in it, but Poots can act.
Pacing and a wooden lead character aside, the only real problem with Fright Night is the 3D part. Like any other 3D flick, very few elements are in 3D. The only added dimension throughout the entire film is the look of a bit of depth within the scenes. Beyond that only a handful of silly looking elements are actually 3D.
So, save a few bucks by seeing Fright Night in 2D. Or, give in to gimmick and see it in 3D. Either way, go see Fright Night.
Fright Night
Directed by Craig Gillespie, starring Antony Yelchin, Colin Farell, David Tennant and Imogen Poots.
Charlie Brewster (Yelchin) is a normal teenager trying to make it through high school. In order to get Amy (Poots), the girl of his dreams, Charlie has shunned his nerdy childhood habits and friends. Everything is fine in the little world he's created until an old friend goes missing, and another claims Charlie's new neighbor Jerry (Farell) is to blame, because Jerry is a vampire.
Charlie dismisses the notion that a vampire moved in next door, but begins to suspect something isn't right when his seemingly paranoid friend turns up missing. Brewster soon learns the truth and enlists the aide of Peter Vincent (Tennant), Vampire Slayer, to combat the evil that has infested his town.
Kind of a bland description, but there are some things in Fright Night best seen, rather than read. Suffice it to say, Fright Night is good. While pacing issues and Antony Yelchin's flatness as Charlie Brewster hold the film back from being the greatest film ever, Fright Night does have some aces up its proverbial sleeve. Those aces: Colin Farell, David Tennant, humor and Imogen Poots.
Farell makes for a super cool vampire, so much so I almost rooted for Jerry the Vampire. What keeps the good guys in a favorable light is Tennant's extremely entertaining version Vegas Showman/Vampire Slayer Peter Vincent. Tennant's just-under over-the-top performance is riotously funny.
Like the original horror-comedy from the 80's, Fright Night is more comedy than horror. The humor provided, mostly, by Tennant's character is essential to Fright Night. Without it, the film would be a bland pseudo-horror remake. However, Marti Nixon's script balances the horror and comedy terrifically. The other piece to the puzzle is Imogen Poots. Every horror film has a hot chick in it, but Poots can act.
Pacing and a wooden lead character aside, the only real problem with Fright Night is the 3D part. Like any other 3D flick, very few elements are in 3D. The only added dimension throughout the entire film is the look of a bit of depth within the scenes. Beyond that only a handful of silly looking elements are actually 3D.
So, save a few bucks by seeing Fright Night in 2D. Or, give in to gimmick and see it in 3D. Either way, go see Fright Night.
20 August, 2011
Crazy Eyes
House
Directed by Obayashi Nobuhiko, starring Ikegami Kimiko, Jinbo Miki, Oba Kumiko, Matsubara Ai, Sato Mieko, Tanaka Eriko, Miyako Masayo, Ozaki Kiyohiko, and Minamida Yoko.
Just prior to their Summer Break, best friends Gorgeous (Ikegami) and Fantasy (Kumiko) talk about their vacation plans. Gorgeous is planning on spending time with her father, while Fantasy and their group of friends are going on a training vacation with one of their teachers, Mr. Togo (Ozaki). When both plans fall through, Gorgeous suggests they all go to visit her aunt in the country.
The journey allows the stock personalities of each member of the group shine through. Accompanying Gorgeous and Fantasy are Kung Fu (Jinbo), Prof (Matsubara), Mac a.k.a Fatty (Sato), Melody (Tanaka), Sweet (Miyako) and Gorgeous's cat. Everything is fine and dandy, replete with cringeworthy upbeat music and sight gags, until the gang arrives at Gorgeous's aunt's mansion. Once there, they are greeted by Auntie, a wheelchair bound older woman with a very peculiar personality.
As the girls get to know Auntie, she and Gorgeous's cat become increasingly odd. When Mac goes missing, Fantasy begins to grow suspicious of Auntie's suspicious behavior. The group, seemingly oblivious to the strange happenings, discount Fantasy's claims out of hand, while Auntie begins to taunt her.
A bevy of oddities, including Kung Fu having to fight flying flaming logs of wood, follow as the group slowly comes to the realization that something isn't quite right. One by one, the girls get picked off amidst Scooby-Doo-esque chase scenes by the now outwardly evil Auntie. Her special relationship with the cat is revealed to be one of demonic origin, and their plan is to eat the souls of the virgin girls to sate Auntie's living but soulless body's vengeance over lost love.
House is not good cinema. Director Obayashi was allowed to make House any way he wanted, and it is painfully obvious. That being said, the wacky self-indulgeance does make for a very enjoyable experience. Laughs, intentional and otherwise, are easy to find. The ridiculousness of just about everything in the film makes it perfect for viewing with a group of friends and a healthy amount of alcohol.
Next time: My thoughts on the remake of Fright Night.
Directed by Obayashi Nobuhiko, starring Ikegami Kimiko, Jinbo Miki, Oba Kumiko, Matsubara Ai, Sato Mieko, Tanaka Eriko, Miyako Masayo, Ozaki Kiyohiko, and Minamida Yoko.
Just prior to their Summer Break, best friends Gorgeous (Ikegami) and Fantasy (Kumiko) talk about their vacation plans. Gorgeous is planning on spending time with her father, while Fantasy and their group of friends are going on a training vacation with one of their teachers, Mr. Togo (Ozaki). When both plans fall through, Gorgeous suggests they all go to visit her aunt in the country.
The journey allows the stock personalities of each member of the group shine through. Accompanying Gorgeous and Fantasy are Kung Fu (Jinbo), Prof (Matsubara), Mac a.k.a Fatty (Sato), Melody (Tanaka), Sweet (Miyako) and Gorgeous's cat. Everything is fine and dandy, replete with cringeworthy upbeat music and sight gags, until the gang arrives at Gorgeous's aunt's mansion. Once there, they are greeted by Auntie, a wheelchair bound older woman with a very peculiar personality.
As the girls get to know Auntie, she and Gorgeous's cat become increasingly odd. When Mac goes missing, Fantasy begins to grow suspicious of Auntie's suspicious behavior. The group, seemingly oblivious to the strange happenings, discount Fantasy's claims out of hand, while Auntie begins to taunt her.
A bevy of oddities, including Kung Fu having to fight flying flaming logs of wood, follow as the group slowly comes to the realization that something isn't quite right. One by one, the girls get picked off amidst Scooby-Doo-esque chase scenes by the now outwardly evil Auntie. Her special relationship with the cat is revealed to be one of demonic origin, and their plan is to eat the souls of the virgin girls to sate Auntie's living but soulless body's vengeance over lost love.
House is not good cinema. Director Obayashi was allowed to make House any way he wanted, and it is painfully obvious. That being said, the wacky self-indulgeance does make for a very enjoyable experience. Laughs, intentional and otherwise, are easy to find. The ridiculousness of just about everything in the film makes it perfect for viewing with a group of friends and a healthy amount of alcohol.
Next time: My thoughts on the remake of Fright Night.
My Ongoing Education
Here's another double dose of upcoming films I want to see, with slight descriptions of Kim Ki-duk's Arirang and Manoel de Oliveira's The Strange Case of Angelica.
Kim Ki-duk's Arirang
One of the world's most interesting filmmakers, South Korean Director Kim Ki-duk faced inner turmoil following the filming of his last film, Dream. During the production of Dream, Actress Lee Na-young nearly died while filming a scene where her character attempts suicide by hanging. The resulting emotions caused the director to look inward; not making another film until he found the "cure" for his problems with Arirang, an experimental documentary about his filmmaking career.
I find the cause for Kim's newest film to be mightily interesting. That a director could become all but crippled by his emotions toward his films, and then find his way back to making films by creating a documentary of those feelings, is an intriguing idea. To be able to view such a film should be a treat.
Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Manoel de Oliveira's The Strange Case of Angelica
Director Manoel de Oliveira's newest film is a supernatural love story. The film tells the tale of a photographer that falls in love with the visage of a woman recently deceased. ...And that is both all I know, and all I need to know.
I was a bit late to the Oliveira bandwagon. The director had made dozens of films over his career, one that has now reached a span of 80 years, by the time I saw my first Oliveira film Eccentricities of a Blonde Haired Girl. After watching the film, I found in the special features section of the dvd a seven minute preview of The Strange Case of Angelica. Ever since, I'm a fan.
Manoel de Oliveira's (Selected) Filmography:
Belle Toujours
Eccentricities of A Blonde Haired Girl
The Strange Case of Angelica
A couple more posts about films I'm looking forward to seeing are forthcoming; as well as posts about Japanese Director Obayashi Nobuhiko's experimental horror film House, and the newly released remake of Fright Night.
Kim Ki-duk's Arirang
One of the world's most interesting filmmakers, South Korean Director Kim Ki-duk faced inner turmoil following the filming of his last film, Dream. During the production of Dream, Actress Lee Na-young nearly died while filming a scene where her character attempts suicide by hanging. The resulting emotions caused the director to look inward; not making another film until he found the "cure" for his problems with Arirang, an experimental documentary about his filmmaking career.
I find the cause for Kim's newest film to be mightily interesting. That a director could become all but crippled by his emotions toward his films, and then find his way back to making films by creating a documentary of those feelings, is an intriguing idea. To be able to view such a film should be a treat.
Kim Ki-duk's Filmography:
Crocodile
Wild Animals
Birdcage Inn
The Isle
Real Fiction
Address Unknown
Bad Guy
The Coast Guard
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...And Spring
Samaritan Girl
3-iron
The Bow
Time
Breath
Dream
Arirang
Manoel de Oliveira's The Strange Case of Angelica
Director Manoel de Oliveira's newest film is a supernatural love story. The film tells the tale of a photographer that falls in love with the visage of a woman recently deceased. ...And that is both all I know, and all I need to know.
I was a bit late to the Oliveira bandwagon. The director had made dozens of films over his career, one that has now reached a span of 80 years, by the time I saw my first Oliveira film Eccentricities of a Blonde Haired Girl. After watching the film, I found in the special features section of the dvd a seven minute preview of The Strange Case of Angelica. Ever since, I'm a fan.
Manoel de Oliveira's (Selected) Filmography:
Belle Toujours
Eccentricities of A Blonde Haired Girl
The Strange Case of Angelica
A couple more posts about films I'm looking forward to seeing are forthcoming; as well as posts about Japanese Director Obayashi Nobuhiko's experimental horror film House, and the newly released remake of Fright Night.
18 August, 2011
Dreams too Lively
Time for a shorter, double feature, post about two South Korean films:
Come Rain, Come Shine and The Unjust.
Come Rain, Come Shine
Directed by Lee Yoon-ki, starring Lim Soo-jung, Hyun Bin, with a cameo by Ha Jung-woo.
Having reached the marital point of no return, a younger couple decides to part ways. On their final day together, they are reminded of the past, and look toward a future apart.
South Korean Auteur Lee Yoon-ki's latest film, Come Rain, Come Shine, is most excellent. I could go on and on about it, but I'm a Lee fan, so my opinion is biased. However, of all the films I've seen (thousands, literally) Lee's are among the best. His films Come Rain, Come Shine and My Dear Enemy are the most wonderfully depressing films about failed relationships, and excellent films, period.
Lee Yoon-ki's Filmography:
This Charming Girl
Love Talk
Ad-Lib Night
My Dear Enemy
Come Rain, Come Shine
-Well, now that I've done almost nothing except mention the greatness of Lee's films, I think it's time to mention almost nothing about another excellent South Korean film:
The Unjust
Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, starring Hwang Jung-min, Ryoo Seung-bum and Yu Hae-jin.
Hwang and Ryoo star as a detective and public prosecutor on opposite sides of a corrupt attempt to bring a serial killer the justice. While citizens live in fear and anger of the killer's string of rapes and murders, the two defenders of justice use any means available to close the case, as long as it futhers their respective careers. When their goals put them at odds, their lives and careers are threatened, as well as the lives of those around them.
Ryoo's latest film is an amazingly dark look at greed and morality. The actors are top notch and give terrific performances as greedy bastards that get lost in their own ambition. The dark tone and content makes for a film that can't be referred to as enjoyable, but is nonetheless excellent.
Ryoo Seung-wan's Filmography:
Die Bad
No Blood No Tears
Arahan
Crying Fist
The City of Violence
Dachimawa Lee
The Unjust
That's it for my abbreviated thoughts...this time.
Come Rain, Come Shine and The Unjust.
Come Rain, Come Shine
Directed by Lee Yoon-ki, starring Lim Soo-jung, Hyun Bin, with a cameo by Ha Jung-woo.
Having reached the marital point of no return, a younger couple decides to part ways. On their final day together, they are reminded of the past, and look toward a future apart.
South Korean Auteur Lee Yoon-ki's latest film, Come Rain, Come Shine, is most excellent. I could go on and on about it, but I'm a Lee fan, so my opinion is biased. However, of all the films I've seen (thousands, literally) Lee's are among the best. His films Come Rain, Come Shine and My Dear Enemy are the most wonderfully depressing films about failed relationships, and excellent films, period.
Lee Yoon-ki's Filmography:
This Charming Girl
Love Talk
Ad-Lib Night
My Dear Enemy
Come Rain, Come Shine
-Well, now that I've done almost nothing except mention the greatness of Lee's films, I think it's time to mention almost nothing about another excellent South Korean film:
The Unjust
Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan, starring Hwang Jung-min, Ryoo Seung-bum and Yu Hae-jin.
Hwang and Ryoo star as a detective and public prosecutor on opposite sides of a corrupt attempt to bring a serial killer the justice. While citizens live in fear and anger of the killer's string of rapes and murders, the two defenders of justice use any means available to close the case, as long as it futhers their respective careers. When their goals put them at odds, their lives and careers are threatened, as well as the lives of those around them.
Ryoo's latest film is an amazingly dark look at greed and morality. The actors are top notch and give terrific performances as greedy bastards that get lost in their own ambition. The dark tone and content makes for a film that can't be referred to as enjoyable, but is nonetheless excellent.
Ryoo Seung-wan's Filmography:
Die Bad
No Blood No Tears
Arahan
Crying Fist
The City of Violence
Dachimawa Lee
The Unjust
That's it for my abbreviated thoughts...this time.
08 August, 2011
Unbound
It's time for another new post; already. This time, Danish Director Ole Bornedal's Deliver Us From Evil. It took two years for it to be released on DVD in the U.S., but it was worth the wait.
Deliver Us From Evil
Directed & Written by Ole Bornedal; starring Lasse Rimmer, Lene Nystrøm and Jens Anderson.
Johannes and Pernille live pleasantly in an idyllic Danish town. They have two perfect children, and seemingly perfect lives. However, something unspoken has come between them, causing a slight friction that belies their happiness. Fate and Johannes' drunken louse of a brother, Lars, decide to shake things the hell up when Lars' actions turn the town into a mob. The unspoken issues of love and hate hidden within Johannes, his family, and the town, come to the forefront in a rage of violence that forces all to look into the face of evil.
Ole Bornedal's Deliver Us From Evil is masterful. The Danish auteur's psychological thriller is as thought provoking and enthralling a film as I've seen in a long time. The characters, and actors portraying them, deftly show the immoral acts that allow the evil to seep into the film's town. A slow crawl builds throughout the film, until an incredible third act in which a heavy influence of German Expressionism pulls the characters and events to an all too believable head, and an intriguing conclusion.
Ole Bornedal's Filmography:
Nattevagten
Nightwatch
I Am Dina
The Substitute
Just Another Love Story
Deliver Us From Evil
Deliver Us From Evil
Directed & Written by Ole Bornedal; starring Lasse Rimmer, Lene Nystrøm and Jens Anderson.
Johannes and Pernille live pleasantly in an idyllic Danish town. They have two perfect children, and seemingly perfect lives. However, something unspoken has come between them, causing a slight friction that belies their happiness. Fate and Johannes' drunken louse of a brother, Lars, decide to shake things the hell up when Lars' actions turn the town into a mob. The unspoken issues of love and hate hidden within Johannes, his family, and the town, come to the forefront in a rage of violence that forces all to look into the face of evil.
Ole Bornedal's Deliver Us From Evil is masterful. The Danish auteur's psychological thriller is as thought provoking and enthralling a film as I've seen in a long time. The characters, and actors portraying them, deftly show the immoral acts that allow the evil to seep into the film's town. A slow crawl builds throughout the film, until an incredible third act in which a heavy influence of German Expressionism pulls the characters and events to an all too believable head, and an intriguing conclusion.
Ole Bornedal's Filmography:
Nattevagten
Nightwatch
I Am Dina
The Substitute
Just Another Love Story
Deliver Us From Evil
06 August, 2011
It's Terrific!
It's hardly a secret that I'm a "director man". It's kind of like a "breast man" or an "ass man," except that it has nothing to do with objectifying women or looking at their parts. I do have actors/actresses and genres that I prefer, but the main draw to a film for me is who directed it. So, in keeping with the previous post (and, most likely, the forthcoming "films I'm looking forward to seeing" posts) I'm mostly going to go on and on about the directors of the films. The films this time: Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive and Na Hong-jin's The Yellow Sea. Enjoy.
Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive
Danish Director & Writer Nicolas Winding Refn's newest feature, Drive, is a neo-noir that stars Ryan Gosling as a stutman-by-day and wheelman-by-night. Of course, there is more to the plot than simply that. Those details, however, can be found elsewhere, or by watching the film during its September 16 theatrical release.
Refn's previous films are all excellent, and the fact that he has chosen to make a second feature in the U.S. (his first being Fear X) is awesome. With Drive nearing release, he has already begun work on his next feature, Only God Forgives, and is scheduled to follow that with the remake of Logan's Run. Shew, he's a busy director. I hope he brought a snack, provided he has the time to eat it.
Nicolas Winding Refn's Filmography:
Pusher
Bleeder
Fear X
Pusher II: With Blood on My Hands
Pusher III: I'm the Angel of Death
Bronson
Valhalla Rising
Drive
Only God Forgives (2012)
Na Hong-jin's The Yellow Sea
Way before everything that has happened since happened, back in the year 2008, Na Hong-jin made a film. That film was The Chaser. For those that aren't in the know, The Chaser is an excellent serial killer neo-noir/thriller. It proved to be a hugely successful film financially and critically, and launched Director Na into the spotlight. Just a few short years later, Na is back with The Yellow Sea.
Also back, are Na's leads from The Chaser, Kim Yoon-seok & Ha Jung-woo. The difference from Na's debut feature (other than it being a different film) is that the roles for the characters played by Kim and Ha have been reversed. In The Chaser, Ha played the villain being chased by Kim; in The Yellow Sea, it's the other way 'round.
Regardless of which actor is playing good vs. bad, Na's second feature should be an exciting thriller. Which is probably why I'm excited.
Na Hong-jin's Filmography:
The Chaser
The Yellow Sea
Wow; not even a week into August and there are already two posts up. It could be a post-filled month. Check back soon for more.
Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive
Danish Director & Writer Nicolas Winding Refn's newest feature, Drive, is a neo-noir that stars Ryan Gosling as a stutman-by-day and wheelman-by-night. Of course, there is more to the plot than simply that. Those details, however, can be found elsewhere, or by watching the film during its September 16 theatrical release.
Refn's previous films are all excellent, and the fact that he has chosen to make a second feature in the U.S. (his first being Fear X) is awesome. With Drive nearing release, he has already begun work on his next feature, Only God Forgives, and is scheduled to follow that with the remake of Logan's Run. Shew, he's a busy director. I hope he brought a snack, provided he has the time to eat it.
Nicolas Winding Refn's Filmography:
Pusher
Bleeder
Fear X
Pusher II: With Blood on My Hands
Pusher III: I'm the Angel of Death
Bronson
Valhalla Rising
Drive
Only God Forgives (2012)
Na Hong-jin's The Yellow Sea
Way before everything that has happened since happened, back in the year 2008, Na Hong-jin made a film. That film was The Chaser. For those that aren't in the know, The Chaser is an excellent serial killer neo-noir/thriller. It proved to be a hugely successful film financially and critically, and launched Director Na into the spotlight. Just a few short years later, Na is back with The Yellow Sea.
Also back, are Na's leads from The Chaser, Kim Yoon-seok & Ha Jung-woo. The difference from Na's debut feature (other than it being a different film) is that the roles for the characters played by Kim and Ha have been reversed. In The Chaser, Ha played the villain being chased by Kim; in The Yellow Sea, it's the other way 'round.
Regardless of which actor is playing good vs. bad, Na's second feature should be an exciting thriller. Which is probably why I'm excited.
Na Hong-jin's Filmography:
The Chaser
The Yellow Sea
Wow; not even a week into August and there are already two posts up. It could be a post-filled month. Check back soon for more.
04 August, 2011
Feeling Mighty Fine
Post Roland Garros, Wimbledon, a very exciting FIFA Women's World Cup, the first half of the new series of Doctor Who and sleep...the time for rabid film watching returns. While I'm catching up on films sitting on the shelf collecting dust, I'll be offering up a list of films I'm looking forward to seeing. This time, Hong Sangsoo's The Day He Arrives and Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmasters.
Hong Sangsoo's The Day He Arrives
South Korean Director & Writer Hong Sangsoo is the most important working director. His films are reminiscent of the late French Director Eric Rohmer, while retaining a unique style, and South Korean feel. His latest completed film (he already has another, untitled, film in production) The Day He Arrives saw initial release at the Cannes Film Festival. Look for it on Korean dvd sometime later this year.
If you (yes, you) haven't seen any of Hong's films, you should. To employ hyperbole, he is perhaps on par with the five greatest directors in the history of cinema. Those five: Kurosawa Akira, Eric Rohmer, Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles.
Hong Sangsoo's Filmography:
The Day a Pig Fell into the Well
The Power of Kangwon Province
Virgin Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors
On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate
Woman is the Future of Man
Tale of Cinema
Woman on the Beach
Night And Day
Like You Know It All
Hahaha
Oki's Movie
The Day He Arrives
Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmasters
Hong Kong Director & Writer Wong Kar-wai is one of the finest film directors in Hong Kong, and the world. Ever since his poorly received previous film, My Blueberry Nights, the interet has been buzzing with anticipation for Wong's dramatic Biopic of Wing Chun Master Ip Man. Finally, it has been reported that the film, The Grandmasters, is all but ready for release.
The film stars long-time Wong collaborator Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Master Ip Man. While Hong Kong has recently seen three action-oriented films about the legendary Wing Chun Master (Ip Man, Ip Man 2, & the semi-prequel The Legend is Born: Ip Man), Wong's film should prove to be less aggrandizing, and more dramatic. One should see this film upon its eventual release because it's a Wong Kar-wai film about Ip Man starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai. For those that don't know, that is about as exciting as a film can get.
Wong Kar-wai's Filmography:
As Tears Go By
Days of Being Wild
Ashes of Time
Chungking Express
Fallen Angels
Happy Together
In the Mood for Love
2046
Eros: The Hand (anthology)
My Blueberry Nights
Ashes of Time: Redux
The Grandmasters
That's it for now. Check back regularly for the next four posts (two films each) of films I'm looking forward to seeing. I may slip in a post or two about films I have seen, as well.
Hong Sangsoo's The Day He Arrives
South Korean Director & Writer Hong Sangsoo is the most important working director. His films are reminiscent of the late French Director Eric Rohmer, while retaining a unique style, and South Korean feel. His latest completed film (he already has another, untitled, film in production) The Day He Arrives saw initial release at the Cannes Film Festival. Look for it on Korean dvd sometime later this year.
If you (yes, you) haven't seen any of Hong's films, you should. To employ hyperbole, he is perhaps on par with the five greatest directors in the history of cinema. Those five: Kurosawa Akira, Eric Rohmer, Fritz Lang, Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles.
Hong Sangsoo's Filmography:
The Day a Pig Fell into the Well
The Power of Kangwon Province
Virgin Stripped Bare By Her Bachelors
On the Occasion of Remembering the Turning Gate
Woman is the Future of Man
Tale of Cinema
Woman on the Beach
Night And Day
Like You Know It All
Hahaha
Oki's Movie
The Day He Arrives
Wong Kar-wai's The Grandmasters
Hong Kong Director & Writer Wong Kar-wai is one of the finest film directors in Hong Kong, and the world. Ever since his poorly received previous film, My Blueberry Nights, the interet has been buzzing with anticipation for Wong's dramatic Biopic of Wing Chun Master Ip Man. Finally, it has been reported that the film, The Grandmasters, is all but ready for release.
The film stars long-time Wong collaborator Tony Leung Chiu-wai as Master Ip Man. While Hong Kong has recently seen three action-oriented films about the legendary Wing Chun Master (Ip Man, Ip Man 2, & the semi-prequel The Legend is Born: Ip Man), Wong's film should prove to be less aggrandizing, and more dramatic. One should see this film upon its eventual release because it's a Wong Kar-wai film about Ip Man starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai. For those that don't know, that is about as exciting as a film can get.
Wong Kar-wai's Filmography:
As Tears Go By
Days of Being Wild
Ashes of Time
Chungking Express
Fallen Angels
Happy Together
In the Mood for Love
2046
Eros: The Hand (anthology)
My Blueberry Nights
Ashes of Time: Redux
The Grandmasters
That's it for now. Check back regularly for the next four posts (two films each) of films I'm looking forward to seeing. I may slip in a post or two about films I have seen, as well.
27 May, 2011
The Longing
Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl
Directed by Manoel de Oliveira, starring Ricardo Trêpa and Catarina Wallenstein.
A young man (Ricardo Trêpa) on a train tells the stranger next to him of a great love story; his own. Some time before, while working at his uncle's shop, the man saw a beautiful blonde-haired girl (Catarina Wallenstein) in the window across the street from his office. Infatuation immediately sets in and the tale of their romance, a seemingly fated one, unfolds.
Adapted from a story by famed Portugese Writer Eça de Queirós, Manoel de Oliveira's Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl is a nearly perfect film. Oliveira's direction, Eça de Queirós' story, and the acting of both Trêpa and Wallenstein are impeccable. I'm ashamed to say I've yet to see any other film by Oliveira. However, after seeing this film, and a preview of his next film, The Strange Case of Angilica, I'm definitely a fan.
Directed by Manoel de Oliveira, starring Ricardo Trêpa and Catarina Wallenstein.
A young man (Ricardo Trêpa) on a train tells the stranger next to him of a great love story; his own. Some time before, while working at his uncle's shop, the man saw a beautiful blonde-haired girl (Catarina Wallenstein) in the window across the street from his office. Infatuation immediately sets in and the tale of their romance, a seemingly fated one, unfolds.
Adapted from a story by famed Portugese Writer Eça de Queirós, Manoel de Oliveira's Eccentricities of a Blonde-Haired Girl is a nearly perfect film. Oliveira's direction, Eça de Queirós' story, and the acting of both Trêpa and Wallenstein are impeccable. I'm ashamed to say I've yet to see any other film by Oliveira. However, after seeing this film, and a preview of his next film, The Strange Case of Angilica, I'm definitely a fan.
16 May, 2011
The Things That We'll Do
The time to draw a line in the dirt has finally arrived. Figuratively speaking. My laziness and lack of interest has been the reason for spurts of posts and long abscences. Now, I'm going to call it quits. Sort of. Very and absolutely and extremely will no longer be updated with my thoughts on all the films I see.
What that means is I won't be bitching about crappy films. Instead, I'm only going to post about some of the films that I either really like, or absoutely love. This infusion of positivity should result in more posts and less complaining, but I promise nothing.
I'm bound to really like or love at least one of the dozen or so films I'm going to watch in the next couple of weeks, so new posts should start soon. Unless all of those films suck. Then my head will likely explode.
What that means is I won't be bitching about crappy films. Instead, I'm only going to post about some of the films that I either really like, or absoutely love. This infusion of positivity should result in more posts and less complaining, but I promise nothing.
I'm bound to really like or love at least one of the dozen or so films I'm going to watch in the next couple of weeks, so new posts should start soon. Unless all of those films suck. Then my head will likely explode.
24 March, 2011
"Let's Start Over"
...thus goes what I consider the most memorable line in Wong Kar-wai's Happy Together.
Happy Together
Directed by Wong Kar-wai, cinematography by Christopher Doyle, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Leslie Cheung, and Chang Chen.
Happy Together opens with a voice-over from Lai Yiu-fai (Tony Leung) describing the crux of his and Ho Po-wing's (Leslie Cheung) relationship. The two have spent years together and apart, and anytime things get tough within or without their relationship, Ho Po-wing simply says "Let's Start Over" and Lai Yiu-fai succumbs to his request. At the start of the film, the two are again at such a point in their relationship, and decided to leave Hong Kong for South American, to start over.
Once they reach what is quite literally the opposite side of the world, their problems grow greater. As Fai tries to make the best of the situation, Wing only works to make matters worse, and the two find themselves unhappy and apart. Their paths cross again and again, with Po-wing uttering the words that Fai is all but unable to fight against. However, as Fai struggles to deal with Wing, he befriends a co-worker (Chang Chen) who begins to make him think he could find happiness on his own.
With all the cinematic flourish one would expect from a Wong Kar-wai film, Happy Together shows the inner turmoil of two peoples' unhappiness. Furtive glances, along with Christopher Doyle's use of vibrant colors and black & white, underline the tension and sadness of the characters. If I make Happy Together sound anything but what the title would suggest, then I've done my job well. Wong's romantic drama isn't like a romantic drama that would star Reese Witherspoon or Jake Gyllenhaal and feature a Hollywood ending.
Happy Together is heart-wrenching and depressing. More than that, it is an incredibly beautiful film that doesn't pander or offer comment on relationships or happiness. It simply tells, in a way no other filmmaker could, the story of two unhappy people and their attempts to become happy together. It's also one of the greatest film ever made. Ever.
Happy Together
Directed by Wong Kar-wai, cinematography by Christopher Doyle, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Leslie Cheung, and Chang Chen.
Happy Together opens with a voice-over from Lai Yiu-fai (Tony Leung) describing the crux of his and Ho Po-wing's (Leslie Cheung) relationship. The two have spent years together and apart, and anytime things get tough within or without their relationship, Ho Po-wing simply says "Let's Start Over" and Lai Yiu-fai succumbs to his request. At the start of the film, the two are again at such a point in their relationship, and decided to leave Hong Kong for South American, to start over.
Once they reach what is quite literally the opposite side of the world, their problems grow greater. As Fai tries to make the best of the situation, Wing only works to make matters worse, and the two find themselves unhappy and apart. Their paths cross again and again, with Po-wing uttering the words that Fai is all but unable to fight against. However, as Fai struggles to deal with Wing, he befriends a co-worker (Chang Chen) who begins to make him think he could find happiness on his own.
With all the cinematic flourish one would expect from a Wong Kar-wai film, Happy Together shows the inner turmoil of two peoples' unhappiness. Furtive glances, along with Christopher Doyle's use of vibrant colors and black & white, underline the tension and sadness of the characters. If I make Happy Together sound anything but what the title would suggest, then I've done my job well. Wong's romantic drama isn't like a romantic drama that would star Reese Witherspoon or Jake Gyllenhaal and feature a Hollywood ending.
Happy Together is heart-wrenching and depressing. More than that, it is an incredibly beautiful film that doesn't pander or offer comment on relationships or happiness. It simply tells, in a way no other filmmaker could, the story of two unhappy people and their attempts to become happy together. It's also one of the greatest film ever made. Ever.
20 March, 2011
The Ghosts of Saturday Night
After many months without any actual reviews, here are eight. Expect this more often. Enjoy.
Gallants
Directed by Clement Cheng and Derek Kwok.
One of the best films of '010, and one of the few really good films out of Hong Kong this past year, Gallants tells the tale of a group of misfits drawn together by Kung Fu.
A couple of middle-aged disciples of a comatose Kung Fu master struggle to take care of their society's martial arts club and their master. After going decades without a master to lead them, the two turned the club into a tea house to make ends meet. Their routine of serving tea and noodles is interrupted when an old foe re-enters their lives and brings about the resurgeance of their long slumbering master.
Oblivious to the fact that he has awakened an old man, the master goes about his days as though his decades of sleep were mere days. With their master returned to them, the martial socitey, with the addition of a seemingly hapless former bully (whom the master believes to be both of his disciples from their younger days), and his obligatory love interest, enter a martial tournament to regain their former glory.
Hilarious, and surprisingly touching, Gallants is an excellent example of the waning glory of Hong Kong Cinema.
Spring Fever
Directed by Lou Ye.
The best film released in 2010. Chinese Director Lou Ye's latest film, made inspite of a filmmaking ban imposed upon him by the Chinese Government, is his greatest film yet.
Spring Fever begins with two men headed to a remote house for a romantic getaway. Upon their return, they must face the harsh reality of their everyday lives.
As it turns out, one of the men is married, and his wife had him followed by a private investigator. The stress of the secret weighs heavily upon eveyone, including the private investigator. The stress forces them to looks at themselves, each other, and to make choices that will affect the lives of everyone involved.
I hate the oft overused saying that a film is "powerful" with "moving performances", but that is the best description I can think of for Spring Fever. It is, in my estimation, one of the finest films ever made.
Reign of Assassins
Directed by Su Chao-pin, co-directed by John Woo.
Many have heralded Reign of Assassins as the heir apparent to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. They must have seen a different cut of the film. Other than a few flashy fight sequences, the majority of the film is weighed down by a convoluted mess of coincidences that are as unbelievable as they are distracting. Reign of Assissins is not a horrible film, but, given the level of quality of Director Su Chao-pin's previous directorial effort (Taiwanese supernatural thriller Silk), and that the film is co-directed by cinema legend John Woo, it is quite a disappointment.
Truth or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat
Directed by Barbara Wong.
An HK film about six young people living by the rules of "Truth or Dare", as they make their way through the messy aspects of their romantic and professional lives. A bit like a coming-of-age film, but without heavy overtones about life and greater meaning. Truth or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat is a great example of a lighter film from Hong Kong that, while lacking in big name actors, has a quality and likeableness to it.
The Road Less Traveled
Directed by Derek Chiu, produced by Derek Yee.
No, it isn't a film based on a poem by Robert Frost. Derek Chiu's The Road Less Traveled is a romantic drama about the genre's mainstays: love and loss.
Louis Koo plays an Hong Kong truck driver that runs a route into Mainland China. On one stormy night, Koo runs over a local man while he was riding his bicycle across the road. Koo is found innocent of wrongdoing, and the victim's pregnant wife (played by Crystal Huang) receives a settlement from the trucking company for which Koo works, but their paths are somewhat destined to cross again.
Unable to cope with the horrific incident, Koo returns to his route and decides to visit the restaurant to offer his condolences, as well as further compensation. Upon meeting the widow, Koo shies away from divulging his identity, and instead develops a friendship with her. The two begin to rely upon one another, as the widow has a diffcult time running her late husband's restaurant, and Koo's inability to come to terms with the accident has caused a great deal of strain on his relationship with his long-time girl-friend (played by Karen Mok).
The pain the draws Koo and the widow together, and keeps them together, throughout the challenges surrounding their circumstances, is what brings about the inevitable discovery of Koo's identity. How they handle the shock and fallout from the discovery is predictable, but rings true.
Being that The Road Less Traveled is an HK film for the Maindland Chinese market, it is a surprisingly good film. Instead of pandering to the Mainland audience, Producer Derek Yee and Director Derek Chui proffer a film that showcases the similarities and differences of the two areas, while still presenting an interesting and affecting drama.
The Adjustment Bureau
Directed by George Nolfi.
One needs three things to watch The Adjustment Bureau:
1. A ticket.
2. 105 minutes to kill.
3. The ability to laugh.
Having an appreciation for fedoras doesn't hurt.
The film stars Matt Damon as a politician on the verge of being elected to the United States Senate. He loses the elecation due to an embarrassing photo from his somewhat unrestrained past, but gains a love interest (played by Emily Blunt) in the Men's Room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Soon after, it is revealed via exposition that there are men working for the eponymous and omnipresent Adjustment Bureau (represented onscreen mainly by Anthony Mackie and John Slattery) that are the guiding hands of our collective fates.
From that point the film becomes convoluted to the point of ridiculousness, with Damon's character learning of the Bureau's existence, the purpose behind their hats (mostly fedoras), and struggling against their guidance in an attempt to stay with the woman he met in the bathroom, because of their true love. The will of their fates, as well as the trust and allegience of Mackie's Bureau character, are tested leading up to an ending that resolves almost nothing.
A good time can be had while watching The Adjustment Bureau; just as long as you can find humor in the plot holes and silliness of the film, all of which feel as though the filmmakers were making it up as the went.
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Directed by Joss Whedon.
Joss Whedon's internet venture into the world of musicals.
Neil Patrick Harris stars as the eponymous (that's right; I used eponymous twice in one blog post) Dr. Horrible, a villain hoping to one day join the ranks of the supervillain elite that make up the Evil Leage of Evil. Standing in the way are his affections for Penny (played by Felicia Day), a girl that does her laundry at the same laundromat as the not yet horrible enough Dr., and the doctor's nemesis: Captain Hammer (played by Nathan Fillion).
With Whedon's trademark dark humor, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is riotously funny. Harris and cast give great performances, sing their respective characters' songs, and sing them well, to a delightful effect. In short, it's hard not to like it.
Big Time
Directed by Chris Blum.
Described as a concert film, or a musical film, Big Time is both, but really more of an experience than anything. Tom Waits "stars" in what amounts to 90 minutes of live performances interspersed with vingettes and other musical performances, all from the masterful trubadour.
Paraphrasing mini-conversations I had, both during and after the film, with the girl that I saw the film with, Big Time has an "avant-garde style reminiscient of a John Waters film, and Chris Blum's filmic take on Tom Waits is interesting and impressive; at times bizzare, with some scenes having an almost hallucinatory quality to them, it is a treat for fans of Waits, and a powerful enough representation of the man and his music to convert skeptics and the uninitiated alike."
Gallants
Directed by Clement Cheng and Derek Kwok.
One of the best films of '010, and one of the few really good films out of Hong Kong this past year, Gallants tells the tale of a group of misfits drawn together by Kung Fu.
A couple of middle-aged disciples of a comatose Kung Fu master struggle to take care of their society's martial arts club and their master. After going decades without a master to lead them, the two turned the club into a tea house to make ends meet. Their routine of serving tea and noodles is interrupted when an old foe re-enters their lives and brings about the resurgeance of their long slumbering master.
Oblivious to the fact that he has awakened an old man, the master goes about his days as though his decades of sleep were mere days. With their master returned to them, the martial socitey, with the addition of a seemingly hapless former bully (whom the master believes to be both of his disciples from their younger days), and his obligatory love interest, enter a martial tournament to regain their former glory.
Hilarious, and surprisingly touching, Gallants is an excellent example of the waning glory of Hong Kong Cinema.
Spring Fever
Directed by Lou Ye.
The best film released in 2010. Chinese Director Lou Ye's latest film, made inspite of a filmmaking ban imposed upon him by the Chinese Government, is his greatest film yet.
Spring Fever begins with two men headed to a remote house for a romantic getaway. Upon their return, they must face the harsh reality of their everyday lives.
As it turns out, one of the men is married, and his wife had him followed by a private investigator. The stress of the secret weighs heavily upon eveyone, including the private investigator. The stress forces them to looks at themselves, each other, and to make choices that will affect the lives of everyone involved.
I hate the oft overused saying that a film is "powerful" with "moving performances", but that is the best description I can think of for Spring Fever. It is, in my estimation, one of the finest films ever made.
Reign of Assassins
Directed by Su Chao-pin, co-directed by John Woo.
Many have heralded Reign of Assassins as the heir apparent to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. They must have seen a different cut of the film. Other than a few flashy fight sequences, the majority of the film is weighed down by a convoluted mess of coincidences that are as unbelievable as they are distracting. Reign of Assissins is not a horrible film, but, given the level of quality of Director Su Chao-pin's previous directorial effort (Taiwanese supernatural thriller Silk), and that the film is co-directed by cinema legend John Woo, it is quite a disappointment.
Truth or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat
Directed by Barbara Wong.
An HK film about six young people living by the rules of "Truth or Dare", as they make their way through the messy aspects of their romantic and professional lives. A bit like a coming-of-age film, but without heavy overtones about life and greater meaning. Truth or Dare: 6th Floor Rear Flat is a great example of a lighter film from Hong Kong that, while lacking in big name actors, has a quality and likeableness to it.
The Road Less Traveled
Directed by Derek Chiu, produced by Derek Yee.
No, it isn't a film based on a poem by Robert Frost. Derek Chiu's The Road Less Traveled is a romantic drama about the genre's mainstays: love and loss.
Louis Koo plays an Hong Kong truck driver that runs a route into Mainland China. On one stormy night, Koo runs over a local man while he was riding his bicycle across the road. Koo is found innocent of wrongdoing, and the victim's pregnant wife (played by Crystal Huang) receives a settlement from the trucking company for which Koo works, but their paths are somewhat destined to cross again.
Unable to cope with the horrific incident, Koo returns to his route and decides to visit the restaurant to offer his condolences, as well as further compensation. Upon meeting the widow, Koo shies away from divulging his identity, and instead develops a friendship with her. The two begin to rely upon one another, as the widow has a diffcult time running her late husband's restaurant, and Koo's inability to come to terms with the accident has caused a great deal of strain on his relationship with his long-time girl-friend (played by Karen Mok).
The pain the draws Koo and the widow together, and keeps them together, throughout the challenges surrounding their circumstances, is what brings about the inevitable discovery of Koo's identity. How they handle the shock and fallout from the discovery is predictable, but rings true.
Being that The Road Less Traveled is an HK film for the Maindland Chinese market, it is a surprisingly good film. Instead of pandering to the Mainland audience, Producer Derek Yee and Director Derek Chui proffer a film that showcases the similarities and differences of the two areas, while still presenting an interesting and affecting drama.
The Adjustment Bureau
Directed by George Nolfi.
One needs three things to watch The Adjustment Bureau:
1. A ticket.
2. 105 minutes to kill.
3. The ability to laugh.
Having an appreciation for fedoras doesn't hurt.
The film stars Matt Damon as a politician on the verge of being elected to the United States Senate. He loses the elecation due to an embarrassing photo from his somewhat unrestrained past, but gains a love interest (played by Emily Blunt) in the Men's Room of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. Soon after, it is revealed via exposition that there are men working for the eponymous and omnipresent Adjustment Bureau (represented onscreen mainly by Anthony Mackie and John Slattery) that are the guiding hands of our collective fates.
From that point the film becomes convoluted to the point of ridiculousness, with Damon's character learning of the Bureau's existence, the purpose behind their hats (mostly fedoras), and struggling against their guidance in an attempt to stay with the woman he met in the bathroom, because of their true love. The will of their fates, as well as the trust and allegience of Mackie's Bureau character, are tested leading up to an ending that resolves almost nothing.
A good time can be had while watching The Adjustment Bureau; just as long as you can find humor in the plot holes and silliness of the film, all of which feel as though the filmmakers were making it up as the went.
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Directed by Joss Whedon.
Joss Whedon's internet venture into the world of musicals.
Neil Patrick Harris stars as the eponymous (that's right; I used eponymous twice in one blog post) Dr. Horrible, a villain hoping to one day join the ranks of the supervillain elite that make up the Evil Leage of Evil. Standing in the way are his affections for Penny (played by Felicia Day), a girl that does her laundry at the same laundromat as the not yet horrible enough Dr., and the doctor's nemesis: Captain Hammer (played by Nathan Fillion).
With Whedon's trademark dark humor, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog is riotously funny. Harris and cast give great performances, sing their respective characters' songs, and sing them well, to a delightful effect. In short, it's hard not to like it.
Big Time
Directed by Chris Blum.
Described as a concert film, or a musical film, Big Time is both, but really more of an experience than anything. Tom Waits "stars" in what amounts to 90 minutes of live performances interspersed with vingettes and other musical performances, all from the masterful trubadour.
Paraphrasing mini-conversations I had, both during and after the film, with the girl that I saw the film with, Big Time has an "avant-garde style reminiscient of a John Waters film, and Chris Blum's filmic take on Tom Waits is interesting and impressive; at times bizzare, with some scenes having an almost hallucinatory quality to them, it is a treat for fans of Waits, and a powerful enough representation of the man and his music to convert skeptics and the uninitiated alike."
26 February, 2011
Best of; '010
My favorite films from 2010:
Lou Ye's Spring Fever
Hong Sangsoo's Oki's Movie
Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising
Debra Granik's Winter's Bone
Hong Sangsoo's Hahaha
Edward Burns' Nice Guy Johnny
Edmond Pang Ho-cheung's Love In A Puff
David Fincher's The Social Network
Clement Cheng and Derek Kwok's Gallants
Vincenzo Natali's Splice
The Coen Brothers' True Grit
Lou Ye's Spring Fever
Hong Sangsoo's Oki's Movie
Nicolas Winding Refn's Valhalla Rising
Debra Granik's Winter's Bone
Hong Sangsoo's Hahaha
Edward Burns' Nice Guy Johnny
Edmond Pang Ho-cheung's Love In A Puff
David Fincher's The Social Network
Clement Cheng and Derek Kwok's Gallants
Vincenzo Natali's Splice
The Coen Brothers' True Grit
20 February, 2011
The Right Stuff
2011 started, film-wise, with a film that is reportedly going to be remade. I'm not much of a fan of remakes, but the idea of an updated version of Logan's Run, directed by Danish Director Nicolas Winding Refn, is pretty exciting. I'm busy preparing a list of my favorite films from '010, so this post will be lacking in extensive comments for each film. Oh, well. Instead, it's just a list of the films viewed so far in 2011.
Logan's Run
Hoodwinked
Looking for Kitty
Death in the Garden
Death Hunt
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
La jetee
Nice Guy Johnny
The Third Man
Don't Look Up
Fear Me Not
The Cave of Silken Web
Dream Home
Buried
Winter's Bone
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
The Last Exorcism
Everyone Else
A Summer Without Gitti
Shutter Island
Requiem
Les Sept Jours Du Tailon (7 Days)
The Social Network
Greenberg
HaHaHa
Inception
The Ghost Writer
The Secret In Their Eyes
Oki's Movie
Crossing Hennessy
Centurion
True Grit (2010 version)
Check back very soon (less than a week) for a post of my favorite films from 2010.
Logan's Run
Hoodwinked
Looking for Kitty
Death in the Garden
Death Hunt
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
La jetee
Nice Guy Johnny
The Third Man
Don't Look Up
Fear Me Not
The Cave of Silken Web
Dream Home
Buried
Winter's Bone
Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
The Last Exorcism
Everyone Else
A Summer Without Gitti
Shutter Island
Requiem
Les Sept Jours Du Tailon (7 Days)
The Social Network
Greenberg
HaHaHa
Inception
The Ghost Writer
The Secret In Their Eyes
Oki's Movie
Crossing Hennessy
Centurion
True Grit (2010 version)
Check back very soon (less than a week) for a post of my favorite films from 2010.
29 January, 2011
Well, There's A Lot
Nearly a month into 2011, it's time to close out the films from '010. Having slacked off post-wise in 2010, there were a little over 200 films I didn't post about. The following are the aforementioned films. I'd offer some sort of comment or review for the films, but there's too damn many. For my thoughts on any of the films, feel free to ask.
Murderer
Long Arm of the Law
A Serious Man
Caveman
The 39 Steps
Sabotage
Vertigo
Jamaica Inn
Sanshiro Sugata
Sanshiro Sugata II
Throw Down
Bodyguards and Assassins
Secret Agent
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 Version)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 Version)
Paju
The Mean Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail
Ichi
The Grave
Rope
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
The Green Butchers
Reconstruction
Pusher
Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands
Pusher III: I'm the Angel of Death
In China They Eat Dogs
Old Men In New Cars
Amusement
4 Months 3 Weeks And 2 Days
1 Month With 4 Months 3 Weeks And 2 Days
McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong
Split Second Murders
Bleeder
Harlan County, U.S.A.
Italian for Beginner's
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself)
Bronson
Bruno
Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (Fade-to-White Version)
Brothers
Allegro
Flame And Citron
The Unforgiven
Mifune's Last Song
Valhalla Rising
An Education
After the Wedding
Brother
MacGruber
Before Sunrise
Before Sunset
The Passage
Just Like Home
Brother 2
Sisters
Go Lala Go!
Adam's Apples
Fear X
The Hottest State
A Dog's Breakfast
Cube
nothing
Cypher
Splice
Home Movie
The Woods
The Intruder
Open Hearts
A Good Rain Knows
Hyazgar
Mongol
Prisoner of the Mountains
Brother
Cargo 200
Flickering Lights
The Celebration
Okay
Open Hearts
The House of the Devil
Resident Evil: Extinction
Baghead
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men
The Night Stalker
The Night Strangler
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The White Ribbon
Stray Dog
Hannah Takes the Stairs
Thanks for the Add!
The Chaser
Offscreen
A Dirty Carnival
Take Aim at the Police Van
Sansho the Bailiff
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Fright Night
G.I. Joe
Love In A Puff
Cleo from 5 to 7
Torn Apart
Metropolis
Requiem
The Hurt Locker
Requiem
Vampire Party
Old, New, Borrowed and Blue
Dorothy Mills
Army of Shadows
Clue
After.Life
On the Beat
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Claire's Knee
Don't Look For Me
Requiem
The Lower Depths (Directed by Akira Kurosawa)
The Lower Depths (Directed by Jean Renoir)
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters From Iwo Jima
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Hiroshima mon amour
Never Forever
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
No End
Trucker
Treeless Mountain
For Love of the Game
Storm
In Between Days
The Forest for the Trees
Le Notti Bianche
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1983
Revanche
Le Doulos
Gone Baby Gone
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Laura
Please Teach Me English
Millenium Actress
Save the Green Planet!
Devils On the Doorstep
Take Care of My Cat
Woman On the Beach
Vampire vs. Vampire
Forbidden City Cop
The Masked Prosecutor
Encounter of the Spooky Kind
Organized Crime & Triad Bureau
Just One Look
Mongkok Story
Finale In Blood
Body Weapon
Terribly Happy
Triple Agent
Seance
The Bakery Girl of Monceau
The Bakery Girl of Monceau (It was so nice, I watched it twice)
Apt Pupil
Le Samourai
The Firemen's Ball
The King Is Alive
The Exorcist
Dead & Breakfast
The Most Beautiful
Winter's Bone
Ghostbusters
Drag Me to Hell
House On Haunted Hill
Horror of Dracula
Witchfinder General
An American Werewolf In London
La Collectionneuse
Zhmurki (Dead Man's Bluff)
Le Cercle Rouge
Throne of Blood
Pauline at the Beach
The Wimbledon Video Collection: 2004 Official Film
The Return
Laughing Gor 2: Turning Point
Suzanne's Career
Night and the City
Superman Returns
Kinamand (Chinaman)
The Bad Sleep Well
A Colt Is My Passport
Antichrist
My Night At Maud's
Journey to the West: Chinese Medicine Today
Home Movie
Sing A Song of Sex
Public Access
X-Men
X2: X-Men United
Blood: The Last Vampire (Live Action Version)
Love in the Afternoon
The Girl in the Park
Red Sun
Kagemusha
Paranoid Park
Remember the Titans
Nomad: The Warrior
Tidal Wave
The President's Last Bang
Through A Glass Darkly
Une Prophete
High & Low
Everlasting Moments
Ghosts
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Picnic At Hanging Rock
Le Deuxieme Souffle
One-Armed Swordsman
Breach
Old Partner
Insomnia
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula
Beyond the Sea
Onibaba
Waltz with Bashir
High Kick Girl!
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
Zombieland
Murderer
Long Arm of the Law
A Serious Man
Caveman
The 39 Steps
Sabotage
Vertigo
Jamaica Inn
Sanshiro Sugata
Sanshiro Sugata II
Throw Down
Bodyguards and Assassins
Secret Agent
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934 Version)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956 Version)
Paju
The Mean Who Tread On the Tiger's Tail
Ichi
The Grave
Rope
Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
The Green Butchers
Reconstruction
Pusher
Pusher II: With Blood On My Hands
Pusher III: I'm the Angel of Death
In China They Eat Dogs
Old Men In New Cars
Amusement
4 Months 3 Weeks And 2 Days
1 Month With 4 Months 3 Weeks And 2 Days
McDull Kung Fu Ding Ding Dong
Split Second Murders
Bleeder
Harlan County, U.S.A.
Italian for Beginner's
Iron Man
Iron Man 2
Wilbur (Wants to Kill Himself)
Bronson
Bruno
Sympathy For Lady Vengeance (Fade-to-White Version)
Brothers
Allegro
Flame And Citron
The Unforgiven
Mifune's Last Song
Valhalla Rising
An Education
After the Wedding
Brother
MacGruber
Before Sunrise
Before Sunset
The Passage
Just Like Home
Brother 2
Sisters
Go Lala Go!
Adam's Apples
Fear X
The Hottest State
A Dog's Breakfast
Cube
nothing
Cypher
Splice
Home Movie
The Woods
The Intruder
Open Hearts
A Good Rain Knows
Hyazgar
Mongol
Prisoner of the Mountains
Brother
Cargo 200
Flickering Lights
The Celebration
Okay
Open Hearts
The House of the Devil
Resident Evil: Extinction
Baghead
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men
The Night Stalker
The Night Strangler
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The White Ribbon
Stray Dog
Hannah Takes the Stairs
Thanks for the Add!
The Chaser
Offscreen
A Dirty Carnival
Take Aim at the Police Van
Sansho the Bailiff
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Fright Night
G.I. Joe
Love In A Puff
Cleo from 5 to 7
Torn Apart
Metropolis
Requiem
The Hurt Locker
Requiem
Vampire Party
Old, New, Borrowed and Blue
Dorothy Mills
Army of Shadows
Clue
After.Life
On the Beat
The Girl Who Played With Fire
Claire's Knee
Don't Look For Me
Requiem
The Lower Depths (Directed by Akira Kurosawa)
The Lower Depths (Directed by Jean Renoir)
Flags of Our Fathers
Letters From Iwo Jima
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
Hiroshima mon amour
Never Forever
Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog
No End
Trucker
Treeless Mountain
For Love of the Game
Storm
In Between Days
The Forest for the Trees
Le Notti Bianche
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980
Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1983
Revanche
Le Doulos
Gone Baby Gone
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Laura
Please Teach Me English
Millenium Actress
Save the Green Planet!
Devils On the Doorstep
Take Care of My Cat
Woman On the Beach
Vampire vs. Vampire
Forbidden City Cop
The Masked Prosecutor
Encounter of the Spooky Kind
Organized Crime & Triad Bureau
Just One Look
Mongkok Story
Finale In Blood
Body Weapon
Terribly Happy
Triple Agent
Seance
The Bakery Girl of Monceau
The Bakery Girl of Monceau (It was so nice, I watched it twice)
Apt Pupil
Le Samourai
The Firemen's Ball
The King Is Alive
The Exorcist
Dead & Breakfast
The Most Beautiful
Winter's Bone
Ghostbusters
Drag Me to Hell
House On Haunted Hill
Horror of Dracula
Witchfinder General
An American Werewolf In London
La Collectionneuse
Zhmurki (Dead Man's Bluff)
Le Cercle Rouge
Throne of Blood
Pauline at the Beach
The Wimbledon Video Collection: 2004 Official Film
The Return
Laughing Gor 2: Turning Point
Suzanne's Career
Night and the City
Superman Returns
Kinamand (Chinaman)
The Bad Sleep Well
A Colt Is My Passport
Antichrist
My Night At Maud's
Journey to the West: Chinese Medicine Today
Home Movie
Sing A Song of Sex
Public Access
X-Men
X2: X-Men United
Blood: The Last Vampire (Live Action Version)
Love in the Afternoon
The Girl in the Park
Red Sun
Kagemusha
Paranoid Park
Remember the Titans
Nomad: The Warrior
Tidal Wave
The President's Last Bang
Through A Glass Darkly
Une Prophete
High & Low
Everlasting Moments
Ghosts
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Picnic At Hanging Rock
Le Deuxieme Souffle
One-Armed Swordsman
Breach
Old Partner
Insomnia
The Legend of the 7 Golden Vampires
The 7 Brothers Meet Dracula
Beyond the Sea
Onibaba
Waltz with Bashir
High Kick Girl!
Zatoichi Meets the One-Armed Swordsman
Zombieland
05 January, 2011
Happy 2011; Welcome Back
2010 ended up without any of the new posts promised over the summer. That sucked. However, new posts are back. Starting this month, on a monthly basis, there will be new posts here at Very and Absolutely and Extremely. So, check back very soon for absolutely new posts of extremely awesome quality.
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