More Newer Films

Saddest Music in the World
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

So over the past few days I have been able to catch up on a few film. I watched A Very Long engagement, The Saddest Music in the World, and Days of Being Wild. I also watched a bunch of Preston Sturges films, but I will write a separate post for those. I'm not going to write synapses, because you may have seen these films already and that would be boring to read (and write), so I'll just tell you what I think of them.

I really enjoyed A Very Long engagement. It's a pretty melancholy film compared to Amelie, I think that is part of the reason some reviewers were a little disappointed with it, not to mention the slower pace bored some people. But, I wasn't bored at all. I thought that it was a very sad and lovely film, but, I also kind of like movies like that. I really enjoy all of Jean-Pierre Jeunet's movies, though I always forget to watch Alien Resurrection. I really love his baroque storybook style, it is always so great to watch, and I think it really suited this film well, giving it a visual depth that was breath-taking. I recommend watching it.

The same evening I watched Guy Madden's The Saddest Music in the World. It was actually the perfect film to watch after A Very Long Engagement. The only other Guy Madden film I have seen is Dracula: Pages from a Virgin's Diary, and after seeing this film I feel it would be in my best interest to see his other films. It was very funny, and the visual elements of the film where spectacular! I think it is exciting to find a film-maker who can make a film that is so beautifully stylish, and also still very entertaining to watch as this film.

I really enjoyed watching Wong Kar-Wai's Days of Being Wild. It was also a very beautifully photographed movie. I really need to watch the rest of his films, I have so far only seen this one, Chungking Express, Happy Together & In the Mood for Love, each I have really loved. I really love how super romantic everyone is in his movies, it would almost seem too dramatic, but I enjoy it. Not to mention all of the people in his movies are always so damn good looking, I can't stand it!

Well, off I go again. I will now watch Naked, and possibly more Sturges.
Later -Derek

Big Poontang, Little Tango

Big Poontang, Little Tango
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

I'm back, and I have been watching lots of movies. But, first off I think that I need to discuss a little classic known as Last Tango in Paris. After watching The Conformist, I thought I should watch some more of Bernardo Bertolucci's films, and what better place to start than Last Tango. I mean it is one of the landmarks of his career, and caused quite a stir in the early 70's (not to mention the appearance of one of my favorite French actors Jean Pierre Leaud -The 400 Blows). As I feared, the sex in this film is really stupid. I'm sure it would have been very provocative thirty years ago. But today, I can turn on HBO and watch a man clean his house with a feather duster up his ass, while his wife explores their Landlady's pussy with a flashlight, I'm just not moved by sexual exploration alone! I've been leery of this film for several years for this reason, yet I hoped it would've been more interesting. Also, the fact that Maria Schneider is so frequently nude while Brando is so discretely photographed (if not totally clad) damages it's credibility for me. Seeing Marlon Brando nude by this time in his career, surely wouldn't have broken any box office records, but I think it would have been more honest to the character, and the film, not to mention alleviate some of the films misogyny. But what do I know? It's a classic! To its credit, the film does have some interesting parts, and performances. My favorite scene is one where Marlon Brando yells at the body of his dead adulterous wife. And, the photography is beautiful. I think this could have been a great film, I think the story is interesting, but the sexual set-piece causes the film to seem dated and boring. I can't recommend this film.

Le Conformiste.... and Newer Films.

Le Conformiste
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

So, I have this (sort of) resolution to catch up on all of the films that have been released over the past ten years or so, that I have yet to get around to watching. Being a known Cinephile, I often shock people with my lack of exposure to films released during my life time, creating an often awkward silence, when the conversation turns to some newer release that everyone is gushing about, and I admit to never having watched. Some of these films I once saw trailers for, and could never muster the interest to watch, even after (and sometimes because) every person between the ages of 7 to 35 swore it was like witnessing the second coming of Christ, not to mention being a personal favorite. Others may have reminded me of someone I hate and the mental image of them enjoying it, turned me off. While others I simply forget about while looking for things to watch.

Well, the other day while searching for more recent films to once again give me something to talk about at the water cooler, I picked up and put back on the shelf Mike Leigh's Naked, Lars von Trier's Breaking the Waves, and several other films that I just couldn't bear watching yet. I did however rent Napoleon Dynamite-2004, Pedro Almodovar's The Flower of My Secret -1995 (on Tedd's recommendation), and Bernardo Bertolucci's The Conformist-1971.

I really enjoyedNapoleon Dynamite , I didn't think was DEF COMEDY JAM or anything, but did laugh. I also enjoyed The Flower of my Secret, it wasn't my favorite Almodovar film( but it was still way better than most people's movies). But of course my favorite film of the bunch was the 34 year old The Conformist. I can't help it!

The 20 year old VHS copy I watched may have seen better days, but chances are not much. It was poorly dubbed in English (as a French/Italian co-production it may be dubbed regardless), Pan & Scan, and a shortened American version, but it still looked amazing. It reminded me of the first time I watched Luchino Visconti's The Leopard. It was a grainy bootleg video, yet I could tell it was one of the most beautifully photographed films I would ever see, and decent release would be an event. I say the same would go for The Conformist. I hope it's released on DVD soon.

As far as a brief summary of the film I will try, though I think at least a second viewing would be necessary for something complete.
The title kind of sums up the theme of the movie. It is the story of Marcello, who concerned with his abnormality (partly due to his latent Homosexuality), and is willing to do almost anything to conform to his society, in this case fascist Italy. Yet, he has a fear of guns, and falls in love with a woman (an anti fascist he is supposed to kill) who is herself pursuing Marcello's trophy wife. It has a non linear story-line, told though a series of Marcello's flashbacks. People, costumes, and scenery are exquisite. Highly Recommended, look out for showings in local theaters, there was a restoration about 10 years ago that included apparently important scenes. It may show up sometime.

Now I am off to watch Last Tango in Paris, (more Bertolucci, and this time Jean Pierre Leaud appears!) Wong Kar-Wai's Days of Being Wild, and Preston Sturges' Miracle of Morgan's Creek. By the way Preston Sturges on Preston Sturges is a great book Highly Reccomended!

John Ford: The Westerns -part one

Ford
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

John Ford is one of My favorite Directors, and I thought I should start By saying a few words about him. Well, it didn't take to long to realize this would be a Huge task. Then I decided to break things up and focus on different fazes of his life and career. I decided to start with a short bio, of his early years. From time to time I will write more, and focus on many of his films individually, and what they mean to me.

John Ford has often been compared to Shakespeare, and at times been called "America's Homer". The problem with these comparisons I feel is, Who reads Homer? I think this sounds like Finding something fasicinating on an anthropological level, and that's hardly the way I want to spend the afternoon! I think that statements like these though well intended, and partly true, really obscure the fact that he was also a great popular artist. I think that is sad that very few people appreciate, or even watch his films. Take for example, it would be unheard of for a film critic for a major magazine to say that they had never bothered watching Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Understandably, few readers would consider such a critic worthy of the position, and would proptly drag them into the street to be shot! Yet, not long ago, Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman admited to never having bothered to watch John Ford's Stagecoach! I wouldn't normally find this a sin if it weren't for fact that HE'S A FILM CRITIC FOR A MAJOR MAGAZINE, and as of writing this He has yet to be shot!! I think the following Quote from Steve Silver sums it up better that I can.

A PRAYER FOR OWEN GLEIBERMAN: (I)n the current issue of Entertainment Weekly, Schwarzbaum's co-critic Owen Gleiberman admits, in a reader Q&A, that he has never seen John Ford's "Stagecoach." What-what-WHAT? Shouldn't he have his NYFCC membership revoked, just for that?

And it's not just Mr. Gleiberman, and that's what really concerns me. I feel it reflects the general disregard of Ford's work in America. I think this has a large part to do with the bad reputation that the Western genre has had in recent years, a genre that John Ford is very closely related to. Yet, when even published critics don't watch these films isn't it time to ask why? I feel Ford's reputation also suffers from his close proximity to John Wayne, and Wayne's staunch conservatism -a view often considered to be shared with Ford. While, a closer look at Ford's films reveal an often startling look at America's dark history. The fact is, Ford's films tend to have a very ambiguous nature, and rarely are his films as Black and White as they are often accused of being. I will talk more about this in the future when I can focus on the films themselves.

John Ford's films (mostly his Westerns) have been widely influential (and popular!) throughout Europe and Asia, admirers ranging from Jean Luc Godard and Ingmar Bergman to Akira Kurosawa and Sergio Leone , yet in his own country he is largely dismissed. With the exception of a few critics and filmmakers such as Andrew Sarris, Peter Bogdonavitch, and Martin Scorsese, Ford's work would be given little respect from American audiences by the end of his life. I also feel Ford's reputation of possibly being the greatest of the Classical Hollywood directors, has not helped many viewers , who dismiss him as being Victorian, to recognize his great ability to change with his times and continue to be a great modern director up to and including his final feature film 7 Women.

Arriving in Hollywood in 1914, 19 year old Jack Feeney would spend the next three years learning the ins and outs of the Movie business from his older brother, director Francis Ford. Jack would later adopt the last name Ford from his older brother, who named himself after the car, Jack would later start using the name John in the mid 1920s after he began directing more 'important' films. Jack spent much of these early years in Hollywood collecting Props, and thanklessly performing dangerous Stunts for Francis's films (he would later get even with Francis by constantly casting him as a drunk in several of his later films). Three years after arriving in Hollywood Jack would direct his first feature film Straight Shooting in 1917 with film star Harry Carey. Over the next four years Ford and Carey would make 25 silent westerns for Universal, most of which are now believed to be lost. Much of Ford's style would be developed during these early years, such as his preference for a still camera, with the objects moving within the frame (Jean Renoir would later claim that he learned how to not move his camera, after watching Ford's The Informer). It was 1924 with The Iron Horse,that Ford (nowJohn) would have the chance to make an 'A' List Hollywood epic, and his first truly classic film. The Iron Horse was Fox's answer to the Paramount's blockbuster ,The Covered Wagon directed the year earlier by James Cruze,note how even the name The Iron Horse is meant to sound newer and better than a Covered Wagon! It is curious that after the coming of sound it would be 13 years before Ford would make another Western (3 Bad Men -1926 would be his final silent Western). It would be Stagecoach -1939 that would forever change the Western, and make a major star of B-movie actor John Wayne.

Wild Boys of the Road -1933

Frankie Darro
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

I love Pre-Code movies! I love everything about them! There is something so raw and exciting that I honestly feel surpasses many films made today. The Depression is such an interesting time in movies, and the way that some films dealt with it is fascinating!
William A."Wild Bill" Wellman's 'Wild Boys of the Road' is a great example of the type of hard-hitting "Ripped from the Headlines" 1930s social dramas the Warner Bros. and First National studios excelled at, and I love watching. It is rarely seen today, but, those who are fortunate to see it won't forget it!
The story begins with two boys Eddie -played by the brilliant Frankie Darro, and his friend Tommy -Edwin Phillips, growing up happily in a small American town. We first meet them taking a couple girls to the Sophomore Frolic, and driving around in Eddie's old-timey jalopy. But, these happy days are numbered as we find out that Tommy's Mother has been out of work (his father is dead, probably killed during the first World War), and has needed to accept charity from the Community Chest. Unable to raise the 75 cent to enter the dance Tommy sneaks in dressed as a girl, to whom admittance is free. Returning from the dance Eddie finds that his future is as uncertain as Tommy's, when he finds that his father has been laid off his job at the Cement Company. After selling his beloved car to help support his family, Eddie convinces Tommy to run away to the big city to help raise money for their struggling families. Hitching on trains along the Mid-west, they run into a girl Sally -Dorothy Coonan who, due to her boyish clothing is often mis-taken as a boy. Sally leaving her Father in Seattle (her Mother is dead) to live with her wealthy aunt Carrie in Chicago. Inviting the boys to join her, they arrive at Aunt Carrie's apartment just in time for a Police raid -her Aunt Carrie runs a Whorehouse, one of the few ways of actually making money during the Depression! Escaping and returning to the trains, our heros join the army of kids who like themselves have been forced to live a life on the road. Battling Police and Train Detectives (whom the kids now out number 20 to 1), life is a constant struggle. One unnamed girl who left alone during a battle, is raped by a train engineer. Fearing the Police the kids take the law in their own hands and throw the engineer from the train. The further adventures of this trio, take them on an odyssey of a society falling apart, hoovervilles, gangsters, riots, and an amputated leg. Truly Amazing!

One of the things that is so amazing about this movie is that in only 68 minutes it can pack such an epic story. I cannot stress enough how great and economic Frankie Darro's performance is. Many times the film rests on his performance, and his mixture of "Gee Whiz" naivete, and Tough determination, make a character that is sympathetic and moving. I wish he could be in every movie! With very hard-hitting direction by William A. Wellman, this film a must-see Classic!

Mr. Sturges

Mr. Sturges
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

COLD ARE THE HANDS of time that creep along relentlessly, destroying slowly, but without pity, that which yesterday was young. Alone our memories resist this disintergration and grow more lovely with the passing years.

-Preston Sturges

I thought I should give you kids a little something, and then I came upon this gem. Preston Sturges' command of the English language has rarely been equaled. Brilliant!

Buster

Buster
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

There is something very sexy about Buster Keaton. Is it the eyes, or is it just his genius? I think it's both!

le Cameraman

le Cameraman
Originally uploaded by livingfilm.

Even the French are allowed!

Silent Night

Well, as I have been working on my first really long post for a couple of days now (I hope to have it completed within the next week), I thought I would give all you hungry kids a little snack!
Wednesday January 19 2005 @ 7:00, mark this date on your calendar as the beginning of the long anticipated Silent Nights @the Rena Villa. Yes Kids, it is finally here! And, to celebrate I will have a showing of Buster Keaton's The Cameraman!!!
You may not know this yet, but, I Looove Buster Keaton, as does my bon amie Polly, who will unfortunately not be here due to a previous engagement she had to keep with some rain (which reminds me of a wonderful picture I saw of her sitting in Gene Kelly's hand, way to go Polly!). Hopfully if all goes well, and my friends do not make a run for the door by the time Buster takes up with a friendly Monkey, I might be able to coerce them to come back on a semi-regular basis and enjoy all that movies without words can bring!
P.S. There may also be a second showing for late arrivers, if there is an interest -the film is only 76 min, unless the wine runs out, and we need to move things to The Nobby!
Later,

In the beginning...

So here I am. 2005 is now a reality, and so is my career as a Blogger. I guess I will start off by stating that the main topic of this blog will be film (not a surprise to anyone who actually knows me, or has read the title of this blog), and my life in the world of film. Be warned, that I will surely bore you from time to time with my endless monologues regarding film, but my end goal is to learn how to spell and develop a sense of humor. Well, that's it for introductions. I will begin shortly.