Recently Watched Films 2015

[Dan Warburton]

Werner Schroeter, Der Tod der Maria Malibran, 1972

Whoa, trip. You like cult camp? Those Warhol superstars? A sountrack that has a life of its own and who gives a toss if it happens to coincide with what you see on the screen? This one's for you - bedtime reading too (quite nice) http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10. ... 15.1034546

[Dan Warburton]

Aleksandr Sokurov, Kamen ("Stone"), 1992

I don't recall who it was here who hipped me to this, but thanks - the most satisfying Sokurov I've seen to date. I think those wonderfully distorted lens shots work better in black and white than they do in colour (in Mother and Son), and I like the Chekhov ghost story feel too. Very touching - but, like similar grey Eastern Euro sloooow films by the likes of Kelemen and Tarr, I don't know whether I'll be returning to it very soon. But nice, yeah.

[Dan Warburton]

Roland Klick, Deadlock, 1970

This is something of a cult classic in the wild world of Eurowesterns, but I thought it was a little thin and rather predictable. Good to see Anthony Dawson (whose previous roles as screen villains in Dial M for Murder and Dr No are great), but Mario Adorf's sweaty bluster gets a bit tiresome after a while. The other character, the "kid" (yep, it's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly folks, fighting over a suitcase full of cash) is rather unconvincing, and we don't see much of the town's umm womenfolk. Cool soundtrack by Can, but not enough of that either

[Dan Warburton]

Guy Gilles, Au pan coupé, 1968

You know me, I'm a sucker for these French 60s tales of existentially tormented Parisian youngsters. Halfway between Garrel and Godard (literally too, in the alphabet!).

[Dan Warburton]

Jean Renoir, La règle du jeu, 1939

So much has been written on this, I have little to add. But - fourth time now, I think - it certainly deserves its place in the world all time top ten, or five, or three. Having seen Mark Rappaport's fine video essay on Marcel Dalio recently, I was even more blown away by his performance here. If you haven't seen it.. well, that's your problem. Drop dead masterpiece imo.

[Dan Warburton]

Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice, 2014

Watched it again, because my wife just finished the book, and to be honest enjoyed it more than the first time. I know hardcore Pynchonians here don't care for the novel much (it's certainly his weakest, I agree) but I still think they did a creditable job transferring it to the screen, despite phasing out a few important characters. I do get a pissed off with those croaky husky "sexy" voiceovers though (Ms Waterston as much to blame as Ms Newsom). Worth for Jeannie Berlin and Martin Short though.

[Dan Warburton]

Julien Duvivier, La belle équipe, 1936

Gabin and Vanel fighting over Viviane Romance, how could you go wrong? But oddly enough, neither of the two endings seems to work - the brutal one the director preferred (usually only available with hardcoded German subs) or the happy one the studio forced him to substitute for it. Don't let that put you off, though - there are many fabulous moments.

[Dan Warburton]

Larry Cohen, The Stuff, 1985

Delicious! A film that takes the piss (or the yogurt) out of everything, including itself. I could have sworn I saw Paul Sorvino about to crack up laughing at one point. I'll raise a tub of goo to Larry Cohen once again.

[Dan Warburton]

Carl Theodor Dreyer, The Passion of Joan of Arc, 1928

I realise now that watching this with a soundtrack (I've tried three already) was a serious mistake. If you can't face the idea of experiencing one of the truly great films without having some aural support, you're a spineless wimp. NO music can do this justice.

[Dan Warburton]

Sam Raimi, Evil Dead 2, 1987

Hum. Wes Craven could take the piss out of himself very well, but I don't think Sam Raimi can. Heavyhanded and frankly boring. And I do like the original too

[Dan Warburton]

Jane Campion, Sweetie, 1989

Didn't much care for this, either. If weird dysfunctional Aussie families are your thing, have a stiff drink and watch Snowtown instead.

[Dan Warburton]

William Friedkin, To Live And Die in L.A., 1985

Never thought I'd find myself saying it, but I really enjoyed the Wang Chung soundtrack this time. Ha! Great stuff - the editing alone is worth a book-length thesis. Has stood the test o' time mighty well, as far as I'm concerned.

[Dan Warburton]

John Flynn, The Outfit, 1973

Newly reissued on DVD with 60+ page book included, yay! What a cracker (I know many people don't care for the ending, but I loved it), and what a cast: the great Joe Don Baker (and if you wonder why people keep saying "the great", check this out - we're in Warren Oates league here), Robert Duvall, Robert Ryan (he was dying at the time, and the performance is awesome), Timothy Carey (always a trip), Karen Black.. yippee. I used to prefer Charley Varrick (Joe Don's in that, too), but I think I'd take this one now if you held a gun to the temple and invited me to choose

[Wombatz]

I realise now that watching this with a soundtrack (I've tried three already) was a serious mistake. If you can't face the idea of experiencing one of the truly great films without having some aural support, you're a spineless wimp. NO music can do this justice.

have you tried the Loren Connors soundtrack? (i actually don't like the film (so what am i, wimp jelly?), so that's the only way i can bear to watch it.)

[surfer]

Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice, 2014

Watched it again, because my wife just finished the book, and to be honest enjoyed it more than the first time. I know hardcore Pynchonians here don't care for the novel much (it's certainly his weakest, I agree) but I still think they did a creditable job transferring it to the screen, despite phasing out a few important characters. I do get a pissed off with those croaky husky "sexy" voiceovers though (Ms Waterston as much to blame as Ms Newsom). Worth for Jeannie Berlin and Martin Short though.

And Can over the opening credits! I liked the movie

[Lao Tsu Ben]

John Flynn, The Outfit, 1973

Newly reissued on DVD with 60+ page book included, yay! What a cracker (I know many people don't care for the ending, but I loved it), and what a cast: the great Joe Don Baker (and if you wonder why people keep saying "the great", check this out - we're in Warren Oates league here), Robert Duvall, Robert Ryan (he was dying at the time, and the performance is awesome), Timothy Carey (always a trip), Karen Black.. yippee. I used to prefer Charley Varrick (Joe Don's in that, too), but I think I'd take this one now if you held a gun to the temple and invited me to choose

I have been reading all the Parkers for a few months, and loving it, and the general opinion has it that it is the best adaptation to date (with Point Blank that Boorman has made somewhat his own). I'll have to give it a go.

[Claud601]

Paul Thomas Anderson, Inherent Vice, 2014

Watched it again, because my wife just finished the book, and to be honest enjoyed it more than the first time. I know hardcore Pynchonians here don't care for the novel much (it's certainly his weakest, I agree) but I still think they did a creditable job transferring it to the screen, despite phasing out a few important characters. I do get a pissed off with those croaky husky "sexy" voiceovers though (Ms Waterston as much to blame as Ms Newsom). Worth for Jeannie Berlin and Martin Short though.

And Belladonna

[dialectics of shit]

Kamen is a masterpiece.

[walto]

Jane Campion, Sweetie, 1989

Didn't much care for this, either. If weird dysfunctional Aussie families are your thing, have a stiff drink and watch Snowtown instead.

I didn't like it either.

[Piano Mouth]

Junun - Paul Thomas Anderson (dir.)



I couldn't find many other screen shots of this movie online, but man is this one great. About an hour long, it's got some of the best Indian music I've ever heard. Traditional Indian instruments in addition to, get this, a brass section! The first song of the film is so amazing, and the other ones are great too! Jonny Greenwood is also in this ensemble, and does some amazing guitar playing and computer music programming. Seriously, a must see, and hear!