films | Rtm - Part 4

Page 1

Page 1

Standard

western #20, 'rashomon.' [another day, another movie.]

By Scott • On 2010-06-27 • In another day. another movie., scott • 1 min read

Rashomon was a story of an apparent murder and rape, told after the trial in which four people tell four different versions of what happened, and who each person blames for the murder isn’t who you’d expect.

It was more proof that Kurosawa was amazing. I could say the same things about this movie that I said about the others.

After the 30 days of 30 Westerns is over it won’t be long before I’ve watched all the Kurosawa I can get my hands on.

He was making movies in the 50’s, for mainstream Japanese cinema, filled with beauty, wisdom, and ambiguity; movies that challenged the assumptions and ignorance of his time, his movies even questioned themselves.

He also worked a lot with the same cast members, which is fun both because you get to see characters take on such different roles, and it also feels like seeing old friends again.

Rashomon made fun of sexism, but in a way that for most of the movie it just made you wonder if he was being sexist. And, in a brilliant “fight” scene Kurosawa also made fun of men pretending they are far tougher and stronger than they are.

The movie was subtle and perfect.

Americans, get over your aversion to subtitles and watch some damned Kurosawa!!

Standard

western #19, 'the proposition.' [another day, another movie.]

By Scott • On 2010-06-25 • In another day. another movie., scott • 1 min read

It’s probably getting tiring, me writing about how amazing so many of these movies are, but this was another example of amazing filmmaking.

Written by Nick Cave (yes, THE Nick Cave) and Directed by John Hillcoat, it moves the Western to Australia, which is about as apples to apples as a comparison can be.

The film is dark, brooding, violent and disturbing, it is also beautifully shot and stunningly acted. If Oscars were based purely on merit, and everyone had a fair shot, there were at least four performances, plus direction, cinematography, and perhaps screenplay, that would have at least gotten nominations.

Stunning, deeply affecting storytelling, I have a feeling I’ll be carrying this one around for a while. It wrestled with morality in a way that was relentless in taking the ordinariness of human depravity seriously.

There is a scene in the final minutes of the film, where the combination of wonderful direction and amazing acting by Emily Watson create a moment as arresting as any I’ve seen. The full reality of the moment is so palpable, you could choke on the horror and tension of it. I’ve never wanted to reach through a screen and intervene more in my life.

Utterly brilliant filmmaking.

Standard

western #18, 'blazing saddles.' [another day, another movie.]

By Scott • On 2010-06-24 • In another day. another movie., scott • 1 min read

The classic Mel Brooks sendup of all things western.

It’s Mel Brooks, what is there to say? Intentionally offensive, it flips back and forth between dumb and hilarious,

Also, a guy punches a horse, what else could you want?

Standard

western #17, 'dead man.' [another day, another movie.]

By Scott • On 2010-06-23 • In Uncategorized • 1 min read

This 1995 film by Jim Jarmusch was yet another movie that blew me away. Like any Jim Jarmusch film, it was full of overt metaphor, absurdity, and off-kilter performances. I loved it!

It’s amazing the way Jarmusch, as well as the entire cast, were able to use absurdity to tell a story that also felt so down to earth and real. The storytelling is so careful and intentional, and Jarmusch is a master at creating moments where the hilarious is always touched by the tragic, and the tragic by the hilarious. My experience of it was at once darkly humorous and heartbreaking.

It was by far the least conventional of the Westerns, but it included most of the themes and clichés nonetheless, albeit turning most of them on their heads and critiquing them.

I said it once, and I’ll say it again, I loved this movie!

Standard

believe the hype.

By Scott • On 2010-06-21 • In scott • 1 min read

Folks, Toy Story 3 is legit. I guess we should expect nothing less from Pixar, but damn, where do these folks come from?

I was a little worried, a three film run is usually too much to ask when it wasn’t originally conceived as a trilogy or serial, but this is the best of the three. It was a fitting and emotional way to end the story they began 15 years ago. (Although, it isn’t quite the end.)

It really was amazing. A near perfect movie.

Also, be warned, as my friend Josué pointed out, 3D glasses don’t work as well through tears.

Go see it!!

Standard

farewell. [trailer park.]

By Scott • On 2010-06-20 • In Uncategorized • 1 min read

Standard

i am love. [trailer park.]

By Scott • On 2010-06-20 • In trailer park • 1 min read

Embedding is disabled, so just click the video below twice to watch it at YouTube. It’s in the 80% range of Rotten Tomatoes, but many critics are going apeshit for this movie.