November 16, 2015 – November 22, 2015
Monday, November 16, 2015
1) Demon Seed (1977)
Why I watched: Facets was supposed to send me another disc, but sent me this instead.
Impression: Dr. Alex Harris develops an artificial intelligence program which predictably takes on a mind of its own and wants to create a child with his wife, Susan (Julie Christie). The comparisons to 2001 are inevitable and the film suffers because of it. There are a lot of films which do a better job with the same material.
2 ½ stars.
2) Limite (1931)
Why I watched: Included in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.
Impression: A silent, experimental film about a couple in a row-boat. Through flashbacks, we get a glimpse of how they arrived at this moment. It’s pretty, but it’s hard to follow and probably about thirty minutes too long.
2 ½ stars.
3) The Cure (1917)
Why I watched: Still trying to watch at least ten movies released in every year of the twentieth century.
Impression: I’m a fan of his longer work, but Chaplin’s shorts are not as endearing. In this one, Charlie is an alcoholic who goes to a spa to dry out.
1 star.
4) Joan the Woman (1916)
Why I watched: MUBI’s film of the day.
Impression: The timeless story of Joan of Arc is motivation for British soldiers in World War I. Cecil B. DeMille does an excellent job with the venerable story, but I prefer the later adaptation by Carl Th. Dreyer.
3 stars.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
5) The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
Why I watched: In the top 1000 films according to IMDB.
Impression: This was what The Book Thief wanted to be, a look at the ugliness of war and the self-delusional ways the Nazis rationalized their “work.” It’s a bit uneven, and David Thewlis was miscast, but the end is chilling and effective.
3 ½ stars.
6) Tales from Earthsea (2006)
Why I watched: Trying to watch every film released by Studio Ghibli.
Impression: Boring and long. I’ve never read the source material from Ursula K. Le Guin, so I have no idea how faithful it is. In interviews, she’s indicated a dissatisfaction with the work. I’m going to assume a lot of the issues can be attributed to director Goro Miyazaki (son of famed Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki). At any rate, it’s not very good.
1 ½ stars.
7) Oh, Doctor! (1917)
Why I watched: Trying to watch at least ten movies released every year of the twentieth century.
Impression: I love Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and I adore Buster Keaton, but this is not their best effort. A doctor loses his money gambling and is tempted to cheat on his wife. I think it’s supposed to be a comedy, but there’s nothing funny about it.
1 star.
8) Small, Beautifully Moving Parts (2011)
Why I watched: MUBI’s film of the day.
Impression: Sarah Sparks is so in love with technology, it threatens to push out her ability to connect and interact with actual people. When she finds out she’s pregnant, it forces her to reevaluate her priorities and leads to an existential crisis. She confronts her anxieties by trying to reconnect with her long estranged mother.
With a quiet steady gaze, it explores how technological advancements have fundamentally changed human relationships.
4 stars.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
9) Flowers in the Attic (1987)
Why I watched: Jamie Porter’s Pick of the Week.
Impression: Corinne fell in love with her uncle. They married and started a family. When the uncle dies, a chastened Corinne takes her four children back with her to live with her parents. The grandmother (Louise Fletcher) locks the children in the attic, while Corinne goes back to her former life.
Corinne abandons her children to their fate and even poisons one of them. She wants to forget they ever existed, so she can inherit her sick father’s wealth and start her life over.
Based on a popular novel by V.C. Andrews, this sad film offers a dim view of humanity. Corinne is easily one of the most horrifying characters of all time, a horrendous mother with apparently no conscience. Her mother isn’t much better.
It’s a celebration of the worst of humanity.
1 star.
10) Walking Tall (1973)
Why I watched: The main character, Buford Pusser, was nominated for AFI’s list of the 50 greatest heroes in film history.
Impression: The true story of Buford Pusser who took on the Dixie Mafia is fascinating, but this movie is too schlocky, closer to Smokey and the Bandit than Dirty Harry.
2 ½ stars.
11) The Butcher Boy (1917)
Why I watched: I want to watch at least ten films released in every year of the twentieth century.
Impression: This was the first of several parings between Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and his young protegé, Buster Keaton. Because of scandal, Buster would soon surpass what Arbuckle was able to accomplish in his career. This is a decent romp, but its slapstick lacks the sophistication and wit of Buster’s later work.
1 star.
13) Peter Ibbetson (1935)
Why I watched: In the book 1001 Movies to See Before You Die.
Impression: English boy Gogo grows up in Paris, but when his mother dies he’s taken back to England and given a new name, Peter Ibbetson. Prior to his departure, he had been friendly with a neighbor girl, Mimsey.
Years later, an adult Ibbetson (Gary Cooper) is unknowingly hired to work on Mimsey’s estate. Although Mimsey is married, the two fall in love before realizing they were childhood sweethearts before his departure. When Mimsey’s husband discovers the unconsummated relationship, there’s an altercation and Ibbetson murders him in self-defense.
Despite his protestations, Ibbetson is convicted and sentenced to life in prison. The two would be lovers are however, so spiritually connected they can communicate through their dreams. They continue to visit each other nightly on the astral plane, until they pass way.
The childhood separation of Peter and Mimsey was contrived, and I didn’t particularly care for the way the film handled Mimsey’s marriage to her first husband was all about money. However, the last act of this film is a very sweet, moving testament to the possibilities of love.
4 stars.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
14) The Edge of the World (1937)
Why I watched: MUBI’s film of the day.
Impression: I like Michael Powell’s films quite a bit, particularly his collaborations with Emeric Pressburger. This film, one of his earliest, was inspired by an evacuation of the remote Scottish island of St. Kilda. It’s an interesting portrait of an isolated population and how this isolation can lead to a false sense of pride. How do isolated cultures react when forced to negotiate the modern world? It’s a beautiful film shot on location in the Scottish Isles. I had a slight problem relating to and investing in the characters in the film, but I enjoyed it.
3 stars.
15) The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress (1944)
Why I watched: The film was inducted into the National Film Registry.
Impression: William Wyler directed this documentary about the men who served on the Memphis Belle during WWII. It’s a pretty cool look at the massive amount of manpower and skill involved in manning such a large plane.
2 stars.
16) Are Crooks Dishonest? (1918)
Why I watched: Trying to watch at least ten movies released in every year of the twentieth century.
Impression: I like Harold Lloyd fine, but attempts to place him on par with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin as the triumvarate are misguided. This is a cute film, but there are just not enough laughs or depth to the story.
1 ½ stars.
17) Things to Come (1936)
Why I watched: In the book 1001 Movies to See Before You Die.
Impression: I like H.G. Wells, but this pseudo science fiction tale was too preachy. After a chemical weapon in a future war decimates the planet, society evolves into a cold, authoritarian society ruled by technocrats. And according to the film, this is the best possible outcome. A few nice scenes can’t hide what a bummer the film is.
2 stars.
18) Out West (1918)
Why I watched: My continuing attempt to watch at least ten movies released in every year of the twentieth century.
Impression: Another short featuring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. As the name implies, this takes place in the Wild West. It was marginally funny, except an unnecessary and uncomfortable seen at the saloon when a black patron comes in and everyone shoots at his feet to get him to dance.
1 star.
19) Barren Lives (1963)
Why I watched: In the book 1001 Movies to See Before You Die.
Impression: This depressing look at the abject poverty of rural Brazil was too languid and slow to capture my interest.
1 ½ stars.
20) The Exiles (1961)
Why I watched: It’s in the National Film Registry and in the book 1001 Movies to See Before You Die.
Impression: This film about Native Americans living in Los Angeles in the middle of the twentieth century is a pretty good exploration of the difficulties of maintaining cultural identity.
2 ½ stars.
Friday, November 20, 2015
21) The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918)
Why I watched: Trying to watch at least ten films released every year in the twentieth century.
Impression: This animated recreation of the sinking of the ship was pretty cool. It’s obviously one-sided, but it’s very well done. Windsor McCay was a towering figure in early 20th century comic strips and animation. This work, unlike his previous more comedic and surreal material, was painstakingly created and is an important step in the evolution and realization of animation as a serious art form.
3 stars.
22) Why Pick on Me? (1918)
Why I watched: Trying to watch at least ten films in every decade of the twentieth century.
Impression: I’m not a huge Harold Lloyd fan. His films don’t have the pathos of Chaplin or the subtlety of Keaton. This is a forgettable short.
1 star.
23) Heimat (1984)
Why I watched: Included in Empire‘s list of the top 500 films.
Impression: Initially airing as a miniseries on German television, this thirteen hour film traces the history of a small German town from World War I through 1982. Focusing on one family’s experience, it’s an approximation of the way most of us experience history. It’s a brilliant look at the way location and origin impact our lives in ways we are not always cognizant. Long, but worth it.
4 stars.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
24) Let the Bullets Fly (2010)
Why I watched: MUBI’s films of the day.
Impression: Part gangster film, part martial arts. This movie set in 1920s China feels like a Chinese history lesson taught by Quentin Tarantino. It’s uneven and shifts dramatically from farce to serious drama in the final act.
1 ½ stars.
25) The Hitch-Hiker (1953)
Why I watched: MUBI’s films of the day, also included in the National Film Registry.
Impression: Inspired by the actual murderous rampage of Billy Cook, this is a rare, vintage film noir directed by a woman, Ida Lupino. When two men pick up a hitchhiker on a way to a fishing trip, they never suspect they’ve invited a psychopath. Edmond O’Brien is a B movie all-star who specialized in roles like this, and William Talman (who would later go on to star as Hamilton Burger in Perry Mason) is phenomenal as the murderous Emmett Myers.
3 stars.
26) Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (2015)
Why I watched: Among the 600 highest grossing films of all time.
Impression: The first film in this series was okay, but felt derivative and unoriginal, but this film was really good. I like the film’s star, Dylan Thomas. I’m ashamed to admit I watch (and occasionally enjoy) his work on the TV show Teen Wolf, but the rest of the teen cast is unexceptional. I’ve loved Giancarlo Esposito since he was in Homicide: Life on the Street (not to mention his outstanding work in Breaking Bad). Aidan Gillen has been a dependable HBO mainstay in The Wire and Game of Thrones; he’s due for a breakout film role and does a good job. Patricia Clarkson is okay in a cameo as the cliched evil mastermind. Alan Tudyk and Barry Pepper round out the talented cast. I went in with low expectations, but this was a lot of fun and I’m actually a little excited for the third film in the series.
3 ½ stars.
27) Bear Story (2014)
Why I watched: Shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short.
Impression: A few cute images, but this story of a mechanical bear didn’t do much for me.
1 ½ stars.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
28) Terminal Island (1973)
Why I watched: MUBI’s film of the day.
Impression: The concept was spectacular: when the death penalty is declared unconstitutional, a remote island off the coast of California is turned into a penal colony. Every convicted murderer is sent to Terminal Island and left to their own devices. I wish the film were as cool as the concept. Although it was fun to see a young Tom Selleck, watching it reminded me of watching The Purge: it could have and should have been a lot better.
2 ½ stars.
Best film I saw this week: Heimat (1984)
Worst film I saw this week: Out West (1918)