Rating: **1/2
Looks to be an exciting film noir for the first fifteen minutes or so. Ends up a so-so melodrama. The most objectionable element is a black maid that speaks in high, whinny voice like the black lady from Police Academy (should be included on a top-ten list of the worst portrayals of a black person in cinema history.)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Review: Duck, You Sucker
Rating: ***
The first 30 minutes or so were excellent. Unfortunately, the remaining two hours didn't quite live up to the promise of the opening. Still, the basic story was interesting and there were plenty of great scenes (and great explosions.) If only it had been trimmed a bit (could have easily lost 40 minutes without losing anything essential.) Its greatest asset is Ennio Morricone's score, which is almost as good as that of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West.
The first 30 minutes or so were excellent. Unfortunately, the remaining two hours didn't quite live up to the promise of the opening. Still, the basic story was interesting and there were plenty of great scenes (and great explosions.) If only it had been trimmed a bit (could have easily lost 40 minutes without losing anything essential.) Its greatest asset is Ennio Morricone's score, which is almost as good as that of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Once Upon a Time in the West.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Review: Three. . .Extremes
A trilogy of short Asian horror movies:
Overall ***
Dumplings: **1/2 (director: Fruit Chan)
Apparently this director is best known for art-house fare. This is very well executed, with an effective deliberate pace. It probably deserves a better review, but I found the basic premise very off-putting (though that's probably the point). This segment has been released separately as a 90 minute feature; here it feels too short to succeed.
Cut: *** (director: Chan-wook Park)
This director is best known for "Old Boy." This is a pretty funny dark comedy about a director who is kidnapped by a crazy extra. He keeps trying to get the director to kill this kid that he's brought along.
Favorite exchange:
Director: Who is that kid?
Kidnapper: I don't know either. I just saw her on the street and thought she looked bored, so I brought her along.
Box: *** (director: Takashi Miike)
Surprisingly, given the director, this is the most restrained of all the segments. Some of it feels like a David Lynch movie. And like a Lynch movie, I'm not exactly sure what happens in it.
Overall ***
Dumplings: **1/2 (director: Fruit Chan)
Apparently this director is best known for art-house fare. This is very well executed, with an effective deliberate pace. It probably deserves a better review, but I found the basic premise very off-putting (though that's probably the point). This segment has been released separately as a 90 minute feature; here it feels too short to succeed.
Cut: *** (director: Chan-wook Park)
This director is best known for "Old Boy." This is a pretty funny dark comedy about a director who is kidnapped by a crazy extra. He keeps trying to get the director to kill this kid that he's brought along.
Favorite exchange:
Director: Who is that kid?
Kidnapper: I don't know either. I just saw her on the street and thought she looked bored, so I brought her along.
Box: *** (director: Takashi Miike)
Surprisingly, given the director, this is the most restrained of all the segments. Some of it feels like a David Lynch movie. And like a Lynch movie, I'm not exactly sure what happens in it.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Week of January 7, 2008
Pan's Labyrinth: ***1/2
This far exceeded my expectations, which were pretty low due to the opinion of someone whose name rhymes with "clef"
Sawdust and Tinsel: ***
I'm being somewhat generous with three stars (on account of Harriet Andersson's pillowy lips, which held my attention way more than the story)
This far exceeded my expectations, which were pretty low due to the opinion of someone whose name rhymes with "clef"
Sawdust and Tinsel: ***
I'm being somewhat generous with three stars (on account of Harriet Andersson's pillowy lips, which held my attention way more than the story)
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