Malcolm1980's 2019 Review Thread

[malcolm1980]

2/2


The Mule (Clint Eastwood) *** - An elderly man runs into financial trouble and decides to act as a mule for a drug cartel. This is said to be Clint Eastwood's final film at least as an actor. I hesitate to say he ended his acting career on a high note, but I will say he ended on a decent, respectable note at least. For a film which could have played this story, which is based on a real incident, as an action thriller or even as a comedy, it's a surprisingly straightforward and subtle human drama. Though far from Clint Eastwood's best directorial work, it is a return to form to what he does best.

Velvet Buzzsaw (Dan Gilroy) **1/2 - Set in the art world, an art agent and an art critic uncover some extraordinarily creepy paintings from a mysterious artist and weird things start to happen. The reunion of the Nightcrawler crew of writer-director Dan Gilroy and stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo is in itself an intriguing start. A horror film set in the world of art galleries is even more intriguing. Unfortunately, despite the promising set up, the film fails to deliver a truly satisfying pay-off despite the concept and the abundance of great ideas floating around. I saw this on Netflix and it is worth checking out. Extra points for making the main protagonist a bisexual male.

[malcolm1980]

2/3

Love Affair, or The Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator (Dusan Makavejev) ***1/2 - A young woman was found murdered and as the film unfolds, we find out the circumstances that lead to her death. Director Dusan Makavejev recently passed away and, yes, as is my tradition, this is a film of his I haven't seen before. I've been an admirer of this filmmaker since I saw the one-two punch of his bizarre sex and communism films of W.R. Mysteries of the Organism and Sweet Movie. Yes, like those two films, this one tackles those two topics and also sprinkled in some documentary-style elements which makes for a unique experience. It is the most conventional film at least narratively I've seen from him but it's still has the qualities that made me admire him as a filmmaking voice.

Porco Rosso (Hayao Miyazaki) ***1/2 - A pilot is cursed to have the face and head of a pig makes his living as a bounty hunter, hunting down air pirates. I love Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli but I have not seen all of their films (surprisingly). This was one of them and I have to say, it's....a wonderful film! That's not surprising since it's from Hayao Miyazaki after all. I have to say watching this, I thought, I don't praise Miyazaki enough for being a great action director. The flying animated action sequences are as spectacular as most live-action equivalent. He even infuses it with humor and whimsy. The film is funny, sweet and exciting, pretty much firing in all cylinders. The only negative is that I didn't like it quite as much as a few of Miyazaki's other films but, hey, few films can be as great.

[malcolm1980]

2/4

West of Zanzibar (Tod Browning) ***1/2 - A magician becomes paralyzed after trying to stop a man from running off to Africa with his wife. After finding his wife dead with a baby, he decides to go to Africa to exact his vengeance. The plot here involves interacting with native African tribes and witch doctors and voodoo and stuff like that. Yes, this would be considered problematic at best and downright racist at worst by today's standards (It's a silent film from 1928). However, the film still remains a rather thrilling tale of a man consumed by his thirst for vengeance. This is largely thanks to Lon Chaney's truly magnificent performance. From his physical performance as paraplegic to his characterization which go from despicable to heartbreaking, it's really something. That alone makes this essential viewing once you forgive the not-so-woke elements.

[malcolm1980]

2/6

The Smiling Madame Beudet (Germaine Dulac) ***1/2 - A woman tired of her husband playing practical jokes on her thinks about killing him. This is what many consider one of the first feminist films (and directed by a woman too). It's only forty minutes long but the film is dense and packed with so much layers. It is beautifully and inventively shot and edited. Indeed, some images here are unforgettable. There were times when I felt it was a horror film. It was made in the early 1920's but it still feels relevant today especially in the age of #MeToo and #TimesUp. I need to check out more of this director's work.

[malcolm1980]

2/7

Topos (Antouanetta Angelidi) ***1/2 - I've reached that point in my cinephile life where I'm now viewing very deep cuts in the world of cinema. This is a feminist art house experimental film from Greece. It starts off with a woman dying after giving birth to twins. Then the film takes us on a journey towards a series of dream-like scenes and tableaus recreating art from the Western culture from the Medieval to the Renaissance period. Lots of essays can be written as to what it all means. I'm not gonna pretend I completely get and understand it all. But I was mesmerized and fascinated by it. It's a true work of art that plays around with the medium in unique ways. This is definitely not for everyone but the cinematically adventurous wanting to experience something unique and different, this is one to consider.

[malcolm1980]

2/8

Une Simple Histoire (Marcel Hanoun) **** - A single mother goes to Paris with her young daughter trying to look for work but runs into one dead end after another with her limited funds running out. Someone mentioned the name of this director, Marcel Hanoun, on Twitter, decrying why isn't he more talked about even among cinephiles. Well, based on this one movie, I will join that chorus. This film is quite extraordinary. It's brief but it really takes you through the ringer. This kind of feels like if the French New Wave and the Italian neorealism had a baby. The print that I saw wasn't very good. I hope someone restores this so more people can see it. I highly recommend this.

[malcolm1980]

2/9

Elise (Joel Ferrer) ***1/2 - A man returns to his hometown and he reminisces about the girl whom he fell in love with since childhood, the titular Elise. At first glance, this feels like your typical Filipino romantic-dramedy and in a lot of ways, it is. The film spans a few decades and though it can be very funny and sweet, it does not shy away from the sadness, tragedy and heartbreak unlike a lot of mainstream Filipino, and otherwise, romantic comedies. The major flaw is that lead actor Enchong Dee looks almost exactly the same when he's play 17 as he is when he's supposed to be 40-something so I was kind of confused. LOL. But yes, this is a terrific romantic film. Filipinos and people in the Philippines, this is worth seeking out in theaters.

Green Book (Peter Farelly) *** - Purportedly based on a true story. It's the early 1960's and Italian-American bouncer Tony Lip is hired to be a driver/assistant/bodyguard to renowned African American pianist, Dr. Donald Shirley as he does a concert tour in the Deep South. Ever since this became a Best Picture Oscar front-runner, this has been the target of a lot of controversies. From its charges of historical inaccuracy to the off-set antics of its makers down to the criticisms of its treatment of racism, I've heard them all. But forget all about that. What is it really? It's a funny, sweet buddy road comedy with a couple of likable performances and its heart in the right place. Lots of think pieces have already been written how problematic this is. While I understand that, I didn't think it was all that bad. Best Picture material? No. (But I think it would've won easier if it had been released, say, 20 years earlier). As it is, it's a pretty good film. I prefer Peter Farrelly's more broad stuff though.

Of Fathers and Sons (Talal Derki) ***1/2 - This is one of this year's Oscar nominees for Best Documentary Feature. It chronicles a group of young boys being trained to be Jihadists. It's pretty amazing and eye-opening look into the all-too human lives of these people. It is a candid and revealing look into their everyday lives and sort of makes you understand where they're coming from, no matter how horrible it might be. But oddly enough, this makes the notion of them turning into terrorists all the more horrifying and disturbing. The film may be troubling but it really makes you think. This is worth a look.

[malcolm1980]

2/10

Alita: Battle Angel (Robert Rodriguez) **1/2 - Based on a manga, this one is about 300 year old female cyborg who is revived in a dystopian future and is hunted down by a mysterious tyrant. This is a collaboration between Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron and it is marvelous to look at and has some fun action scenes. However, I can't help but feel this story, as rich and dense the mythology of it is, is better served as a ten-episode Netflix series rather than as a two-hour film. Despite the efforts of those involved, the film feels rather rushed, especially certain plot elements which I won't spoil and as a result is a rather meh experience. I can see why this isn't catching on as well they would have hoped. It is, in fact, better than most Hollywood adaptations of manga but not by much.

High Flying Bird (Steven Soderbergh) ***1/2 - During an NBA lockout, a sports agent resorts to desperate measures to try and get his client on the court again. I hope I'm not over-selling or over-hyping it it but I think this just might be the best basketball-related film ever made. Shot, beautifully I might add, entirely on iPhones, this continues director Steven Soderbergh's apparent streak of really, really interesting comeback work this decade after "retiring". This script, written Tarrell Alvin McRaney, is intelligent, sharp and witty. You don't need to know all the ins and outs of basketball or the dirty behind-the-scenes dealings of agents and the corporate owners that run the NBA. You get swept up by it. The ensemble cast headed by Andre Holland is simply pitch perfect. I know the bar is kind of low but this is the best film of 2019 so far.

[malcolm1980]

2/12

Mikey and Nicky (Elaine May) ***1/2 - A small-time bookie stole mob money and has a hit out on him. He calls to ask his childhood friend for help and this leads to a character study between the lives of two deeply flawed individuals who have a lot of baggage. At first, I thought this was a comedy....but it's not. It has funny parts, sure but it's quite possibly the best John Cassavetes film that John Cassavetes did not direct. Writer-director Elaine May crafts an absorbing two-character study and features a third act twist which I think made the film even more unforgettable. Peter Falk and John Cassavetes are the two titular characters and they give some of their best performances in this one. It's truly sad that Elaine May wasn't a more prolific filmmaker.

[malcolm1980]

2/13

Terje Vigen (A Man There Was) (Victor Sjostrom) ***1/2 - Based on a poem by Henrik Ibsen, this is about a man who attempts to smuggle food to feed his wife and daughter. But finds himself imprisoned. Directed by and starring Victor Sjostrom, this is a landmark in Swedish silent cinema. The story is deceptively simple and rather straightforward but extremely well-told with some rather impressive and beautiful on-location work. It features some rather haunting and stunning shots. Victor Sjostrom is of course quite excellent as the man who just wants to do what's right for his family. This is highly recommended.