Another movie based on a true story that made many think the Academy racist for a lack of nominations. I'd had it on my streaming list for quite a while, but only when looking with my dad did I muster the courage to give it a try.
If you don't remember the headline event, the opening RL footage (with a mercifully timed blackout) will remind you: Oscar Grant III, age 22, was unduly shot by Oakland-area subway police. Most of what follows the footage apparently takes place in the 24 hours before the shooting, preparing to celebrate not New Year's Eve 2008 so much as his mother's birthday. It ends with his death the next day and an epilogue regarding the high-profile aftermath.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Smiles of a Summer Night (1955)
When I think of Ingmar Bergman, I think of bleak brooding. Sometimes his artistry makes it worth my while, and sometimes I wish I hadn't bothered. I chose this viewing at the time for the word "summer," but I put it on my queue in the first place because I had to see what a Bergman romantic comedy would be like. Especially one that inspired a Woody Allen comedy.
Circa 1900, a group of adults gets together for a typical Swedish solstice celebration. What makes it unusual is that the hostess, Desiree, invited them specifically to sort out their relationship troubles. They include Fredrik, who used to have an affair with her; his much younger virgin wife, Anne; his adult son, Henrik, who wants to be a minister but has mutual feelings for Anne; servant Petra, who wants Henrik; Count Carl-Magnus, who currently has an affair with Desiree and the military might to intimidate romantic rivals; and Countess Charlotte, who loves Carl-Magnus regardless.
Circa 1900, a group of adults gets together for a typical Swedish solstice celebration. What makes it unusual is that the hostess, Desiree, invited them specifically to sort out their relationship troubles. They include Fredrik, who used to have an affair with her; his much younger virgin wife, Anne; his adult son, Henrik, who wants to be a minister but has mutual feelings for Anne; servant Petra, who wants Henrik; Count Carl-Magnus, who currently has an affair with Desiree and the military might to intimidate romantic rivals; and Countess Charlotte, who loves Carl-Magnus regardless.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Summer Wars (2009)
Thought I'd kick off the summer with a movie that has "summer" in the title. Alas, TV anime isn't the only anime that doesn't always live up to its titles. This flick has a war of sorts and could easily have taken place in another season.
Set in either the near future or an alternate present, it introduces us up front to an online network called OZ that's even more pervasive than Google. Protagonist Kenji is an OZ programmer in high school who deems math his only strong suit. When he gets an anonymous email full of numbers, he injudiciously accepts the implicit invitation to decode them. The sender turns out to be Love Machine, a rogue hacker bot that swipes his avatar and wreaks havoc on OZ. Indignation at this frame-up is by no means Kenji's biggest motivation to fight back: Japan really has put all its eggs in one basket, and Love Machine's actions can be deadly.
Set in either the near future or an alternate present, it introduces us up front to an online network called OZ that's even more pervasive than Google. Protagonist Kenji is an OZ programmer in high school who deems math his only strong suit. When he gets an anonymous email full of numbers, he injudiciously accepts the implicit invitation to decode them. The sender turns out to be Love Machine, a rogue hacker bot that swipes his avatar and wreaks havoc on OZ. Indignation at this frame-up is by no means Kenji's biggest motivation to fight back: Japan really has put all its eggs in one basket, and Love Machine's actions can be deadly.
A Double Life (1947)
Could it really be the first time in 10 months that I accepted a Meetup invitation to a film? At any rate, I finally took advantage of AFI's Shakespeare festival, even if it meant yet another Othello adaptation.
OK, that's not a fair summary; it's more of an adaptation of the little-remembered Men Are Not Gods. Tony (Ronald Colman) is a stage actor admired for his talent but notoriously hard to get along with, not least because his method acting runs away with him. This is especially problematic when he plays Othello for an improbable 300+ nights, opposite his ex-wife (Signe Hasso), and develops auditory hallucinations. I won't say precisely what crimes he commits, but his temporary insanity does not prevent him from making the trail a bit difficult for the police to follow correctly. Then an acquaintance grows suspicious....
OK, that's not a fair summary; it's more of an adaptation of the little-remembered Men Are Not Gods. Tony (Ronald Colman) is a stage actor admired for his talent but notoriously hard to get along with, not least because his method acting runs away with him. This is especially problematic when he plays Othello for an improbable 300+ nights, opposite his ex-wife (Signe Hasso), and develops auditory hallucinations. I won't say precisely what crimes he commits, but his temporary insanity does not prevent him from making the trail a bit difficult for the police to follow correctly. Then an acquaintance grows suspicious....
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
All This, and Heaven Too (1940)
Since my last Bette Davis viewing, I've received several IMDb suggestions for more. I gave priority to one with Academy Award nominations, including for Best Picture.
Based on a Rachel Field novel based on a true story, it takes a more personal look at the scandal that eventually led to the French Revolution of 1848. Henriette Deluzy-Desportes (Davis), a former governess to the four children of the Duc de Praslin (Charles Boyer, the only actor with a French accent), finds that ugly rumors have followed her across the English Channel, so she tells her disrespecting French class her side of the story. As we see in extensive flashback, Duchesse Frances (Barbara O'Neil) had lost her husband's love as well as her children's before Henriette showed up, yet she accuses Henriette of stealing them. While Henriette and "Theo" never even kiss, they do indeed develop feelings and must decide how best to minimize negative publicity. Theo...does not choose well....
Based on a Rachel Field novel based on a true story, it takes a more personal look at the scandal that eventually led to the French Revolution of 1848. Henriette Deluzy-Desportes (Davis), a former governess to the four children of the Duc de Praslin (Charles Boyer, the only actor with a French accent), finds that ugly rumors have followed her across the English Channel, so she tells her disrespecting French class her side of the story. As we see in extensive flashback, Duchesse Frances (Barbara O'Neil) had lost her husband's love as well as her children's before Henriette showed up, yet she accuses Henriette of stealing them. While Henriette and "Theo" never even kiss, they do indeed develop feelings and must decide how best to minimize negative publicity. Theo...does not choose well....
Saturday, June 18, 2016
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)
Ah, Sam Peckinpah, arthouse predecessor to Quentin Tarantino. I wondered whether this flick would be along the lines of The Wild Bunch, but it's not strictly a western: It takes place in the then-present of Mexico City.
It's a story of revenge, but not quite what the title suggests. Protagonist Bennie (Peckinpah staple Warren Oates) is only vaguely familiar with Alfredo as a past patron of his favorite prostitute, Elita. He's jealous, but his real motivation to hunt down "Al" is a bounty. Elita truthfully informs him that Al recently died already, so Bennie's task is to drive to the cemetery, dig up the head, and present it while it's still recognizable. (Don't worry; we never really see it.) This is not as easy as it sounds, what with other violent criminals either wanting the bounty for themselves or bent on retaining Al's dignity. By the end, Bennie has suffered enough that his real bone to pick is with his employers.
It's a story of revenge, but not quite what the title suggests. Protagonist Bennie (Peckinpah staple Warren Oates) is only vaguely familiar with Alfredo as a past patron of his favorite prostitute, Elita. He's jealous, but his real motivation to hunt down "Al" is a bounty. Elita truthfully informs him that Al recently died already, so Bennie's task is to drive to the cemetery, dig up the head, and present it while it's still recognizable. (Don't worry; we never really see it.) This is not as easy as it sounds, what with other violent criminals either wanting the bounty for themselves or bent on retaining Al's dignity. By the end, Bennie has suffered enough that his real bone to pick is with his employers.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Contempt (1963)
I'm a bit wary of entries from the British Film Institute's "Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time." More than half the time, I find them OK at best. But Jean-Luc Godard hadn't let me down with Breathless and Alphaville, so this seemed a sufficiently safe bet. Besides, I had never seen the legendary Brigitte Bardot on film before.
It's one of the most international films I've seen, set in Italy but having more lines in French, English, and maybe German. Philandering Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) wants to produce The Odyssey on the big screen, with the one and only Fritz Lang directing. The main focus is on reluctant screenwriter Paul (Michel Piccoli) and his wife, Camille (Bardot), who find something coming between them -- and it may make the difference in whether Paul stays with the project. The other major character is Giorgia Moll as talented translator Francesca.
It's one of the most international films I've seen, set in Italy but having more lines in French, English, and maybe German. Philandering Jeremy Prokosch (Jack Palance) wants to produce The Odyssey on the big screen, with the one and only Fritz Lang directing. The main focus is on reluctant screenwriter Paul (Michel Piccoli) and his wife, Camille (Bardot), who find something coming between them -- and it may make the difference in whether Paul stays with the project. The other major character is Giorgia Moll as talented translator Francesca.
On the Beach (1959)
Another entry in the Gregory Peck festival, this one seemingly less remembered but important for showcasing Peck's anti-nuke stance. It is not a "beach movie," one lighthearted beach scene notwithstanding. Novelist Nevil Shute evidently chose the title for a touch of irony. It's set mostly in post-apocalyptic Australia and features a dangerous auto race, but that's about where its similarity to the Mad Max franchise ends.
In 1964 (incidentally when Dr. Strangelove and Fail-Safe debuted), bombs have rendered Australia the only reportedly habitable place left in the world -- and not for much longer, as radiation sickness spreads. Naval officers Dwight (Peck) and Peter (pre-Psycho Anthony Perkins) must leave their loves -- new girlfriend Moira (Ava Gardner) and wife Mary (Donna Anderson), respectively -- in order to investigate the first sign of outside life in a while: incessant, indecipherable telegraphy from the ruins of California. Tip: Don't get your hopes up for a Children of Men-like ending.
In 1964 (incidentally when Dr. Strangelove and Fail-Safe debuted), bombs have rendered Australia the only reportedly habitable place left in the world -- and not for much longer, as radiation sickness spreads. Naval officers Dwight (Peck) and Peter (pre-Psycho Anthony Perkins) must leave their loves -- new girlfriend Moira (Ava Gardner) and wife Mary (Donna Anderson), respectively -- in order to investigate the first sign of outside life in a while: incessant, indecipherable telegraphy from the ruins of California. Tip: Don't get your hopes up for a Children of Men-like ending.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
The Terminal (2004)
I had said not to expect many more reviews of Steven Spielberg-directed features. It's something of a surprise to myself that I took only about seven months to get to another. Now I've seen all that he's directed since The Last Crusade.
Tom Hanks plays Viktor Navorski, a present-day airline customer from a fictitious nation apparently near Russia. During his flight, his homeland experiences a coup d'etat, resulting in a most extraordinary situation for himself: The U.S. neither recognizes his passport nor can send him back any time soon, so his only legal option is to stay at this NYC airport indefinitely. (If this sounds implausible, know that a real-life Iranian had to wait 18 years in a Parisian airport after the 1979 revolution.) Note that this comes in the first few minutes, so the running theme of the whole story is waiting, but I assure you that things do happen before Viktor's freedom....
Tom Hanks plays Viktor Navorski, a present-day airline customer from a fictitious nation apparently near Russia. During his flight, his homeland experiences a coup d'etat, resulting in a most extraordinary situation for himself: The U.S. neither recognizes his passport nor can send him back any time soon, so his only legal option is to stay at this NYC airport indefinitely. (If this sounds implausible, know that a real-life Iranian had to wait 18 years in a Parisian airport after the 1979 revolution.) Note that this comes in the first few minutes, so the running theme of the whole story is waiting, but I assure you that things do happen before Viktor's freedom....
The Big Short (2015)
Ah, now I've seen all the Best Picture nominees from last year! I would've waited a while longer, but once again, my dad had made the rental and I decided to seize the opportunity.
Based on a mostly nonfiction Michael Lewis book, the story focuses on a few men in three basic groups that never come together. In 2005, number-minded hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Christian Bale) discovers what a racket the allegedly stable U.S. housing market has going and then does what no one ever did before: a credit default swap that essentially makes a bet with several banks that the housing bubble will burst soon enough for him to profit overall. People who catch wind of the arrangement and decide to get in on the action include trader Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling); his associate, hedge fun manager Mark Baum (Steve Carrell); and relatively new investing partners Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jaime Shipley (Finn Whitrock), with help from trader Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt). It's no spoiler to say that they win in 2007. For the record, only Burry goes by a real person's name.
Based on a mostly nonfiction Michael Lewis book, the story focuses on a few men in three basic groups that never come together. In 2005, number-minded hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Christian Bale) discovers what a racket the allegedly stable U.S. housing market has going and then does what no one ever did before: a credit default swap that essentially makes a bet with several banks that the housing bubble will burst soon enough for him to profit overall. People who catch wind of the arrangement and decide to get in on the action include trader Jared Vennett (Ryan Gosling); his associate, hedge fun manager Mark Baum (Steve Carrell); and relatively new investing partners Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jaime Shipley (Finn Whitrock), with help from trader Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt). It's no spoiler to say that they win in 2007. For the record, only Burry goes by a real person's name.
Monday, June 6, 2016
Omkara (2006)
Has it really been more than a year since my last Bollywood viewing? Well, the realization wasn't my reason for breaking the streak. I had hoped to see a Shakespeare-based movie around the 400th anniversary of his death, but Netflix had waits on the ones that interested me. This retelling of Othello just happened to become available last week.
For those who don't remember the gist of Othello, it starts with the Moorish general's interracial elopement to Desdemona against her father's will. When he passes over Iago for an appointed lieutenant of sorts, Iago schemes a vengeful manipulation. Not content to dishonor his replacement, he convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful. It does not end well for any major character.
Of course, in a movie set in India, even modern India, a black citizen would look rather out of place. Omkara, a.k.a. Omi, is instead a half-caste, which puts him beneath the marital dignity of most devout Hindus. Also, his elopement to Dolly initially came across as an abduction from her intended wedding. But these are not the most important changes....
For those who don't remember the gist of Othello, it starts with the Moorish general's interracial elopement to Desdemona against her father's will. When he passes over Iago for an appointed lieutenant of sorts, Iago schemes a vengeful manipulation. Not content to dishonor his replacement, he convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful. It does not end well for any major character.
Of course, in a movie set in India, even modern India, a black citizen would look rather out of place. Omkara, a.k.a. Omi, is instead a half-caste, which puts him beneath the marital dignity of most devout Hindus. Also, his elopement to Dolly initially came across as an abduction from her intended wedding. But these are not the most important changes....
Saturday, June 4, 2016
Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors (1965)
Already another European drama from the same period? But this one has to be the first Ukrainian film I've ever seen. OK, technically it's from the USSR, but a different area than Battleship Potemkin or Stalker. And director Sergei Parajanov got blacklisted for not conforming it to socialist realism, let alone a Russian focus.
Judging from book author Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky's lifetime, I'm guessing the story's set around 1900. It is difficult to summarize without giving a lot away, as the Netflix jacket did. Suffice it to say that there is substantial tragedy and alleged sorcery (despite the characters' surface Christianity). In the first scene, young boy Ivan gets pushed out of the way of a cut-down tree by his older brother, who dies instead; right after the brother's funeral, their father dies in a feud. Neither of these events has much bearing on the rest of the tale, mostly set in Ivan's adulthood, when his romantic heart brings him trouble repeatedly.
Judging from book author Mykhailo Kotsiubynsky's lifetime, I'm guessing the story's set around 1900. It is difficult to summarize without giving a lot away, as the Netflix jacket did. Suffice it to say that there is substantial tragedy and alleged sorcery (despite the characters' surface Christianity). In the first scene, young boy Ivan gets pushed out of the way of a cut-down tree by his older brother, who dies instead; right after the brother's funeral, their father dies in a feud. Neither of these events has much bearing on the rest of the tale, mostly set in Ivan's adulthood, when his romantic heart brings him trouble repeatedly.
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