Malcolm1980's Movie Reviews Thread 2015

[malcolm1980]

2/26

My Friend Ivan Lapshin (Aleksei German) ***1/2 - Aleksei German is a name I only heard of very recently and his films were recommended by a couple friends. This is the first one. I have to say, it's an excellent film although I feel I may have missed some subtext and nuances of Russian culture and history since there seems to be something bubbling underneath the plot. But what I didn't miss is that German is definitely a filmmaker to see (with sadly a scant filmography). It's actually several different plot threads involving different characters. There's a love triangle between an actress, a journalist and a police officer. At the same time, the police officer is pursuing a escaped murderer (and all narrated through the memories of a man who was a young boy at the time). Overall, a superb film.

[malcolm1980]

2/27

Lost Horizon (Frank Capra) ***1/2 - Why is it I only find Frank Capra to be a truly exciting filmmaker when he's racist towards Chinese? But seriously, the continued use of yellow-face aside, this one is a pretty darn good adventure film. Based on a novel, it's about a group of people who is mysteriously brought into a place called Shangri-La, a sort of secluded utopia in a hidden valley at the Tibetan mountain range. The film, I found out, has been butchered throughout the years which I think explains the rushed third act. The film is already well over 2 hours long but I felt it needed to be even longer! It's extremely well-crafted as well. The plane crash sequence still holds up to this day. Capra may be known for his feel-good, aww shucks Americana dramedies but I think I like him better this way.

[malcolm1980]

2/28

Predestination (Michael Spierig/Peter Spierig) *** - A time traveler in charge of preventing huge crimes from happening meets his match with a bombing he's having a tough time preventing. All I knew about this film is that it's a time travel science fiction tale and there's a crime element to it. That's it. So I didn't know the big secret (I sort of guessed it half-way through the film). The film works best if you didn't know but even if you did know, it's still a very well-crafted, mind-bending film that will surely invite after-movie discussions. Ethan Hawke may be top-billed but the film belongs to Sarah Snook who should be getting more roles after this. There are lots of time travel movies and this one manages to get a fresh take on it. It's no sci-fi classic but definitely worth seeing.

The Fire Within (Louis Malle) **1/2 - This is one of Louis Malle's early films. It has all earmarks of a talented filmmaker but unfortunately also all the earmarks of an inexperienced filmmaker as well. This is about a recovering alcoholic who plans to kill himself and goes about his day reconnecting with old friends and acquaintances trying to find a reason to live. Though it is very well-made and very well-acted (including a nice supporting turn from Jeanne Moreau), the film is pretty much half-baked Eric Rohmer. What is supposed to be theme and subtext is spelled out way too much as if Malle thinks his audience won't be picking it up. The final scrawl is particularly a head-slap inducing. That said, there are traits of a good filmmaker in there. Worth watching for Malle completists.

[malcolm1980]

3/3

The Prisoner of Zenda (John Cromwell) *** - After an about-to-be-crowned king gets incapacitated by his treacherous brother and a crafty count, supporters of the king decide to crown his lookalike cousin instead. Of course, things get complicated. It's an entertaining well-made period adventure film. No more, no less. One thing I like about it is the surprising amount of humor involved. That said, it is far from a masterpiece but it is worth checking out for Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s excellent performance as the main villain. He seems to be having so much fun. The final sword fight is pretty good as well.

[malcolm1980]

3/4

Memories of Underdevelopment (Tomas Gutierrez Alea) *** - A middle class Cuban writer decides to stay in Cuba despite the fact that his wife and friends have all gone to Miami. He then tries to chase after younger women. The film is actually much deeper than my description. It is a fascinating look into how Cuban society during the early years of the Castro regime and how a person like the protagonist can feel trapped and alienated. It is actually not a pro-Communist/Marxist propaganda piece a la Soy Cuba (although I do miss the verve and the acrobatic camera work of that film) but a lot more nuanced than that although I didn't find it particularly profound.

[malcolm1980]

3/5

Putney Swope (Robert Downey Sr.) ***1/2 - Nowadays he's known as Iron Man's father but Robert Downey Sr. is actually an independent filmmaker and this is one of his more famous films. After the chairman of an ad agency suddenly drops dead, the board inadvertently votes for the only black CEO member, Putney Swope, to replace him. In just a short time, he pretty turns the place upside down turning it into an unconventional almost completely black run (with one token white employee) ad agency which produces wacky ads and becomes a sensation. Much like Putney Swope himself, the film is best described as aggressive cinematic fuck you which you'll either really like or really hate. And I kind of really dug it. The crudeness of the film (in both definitions of the word) and the fact that it's so of its time adds to its charm. Does this qualify as blaxploitation? I don't know.

[malcolm1980]

3/6

El Sur (Victor Erice) **** - Despite having a scant filmography, Victor Erice is widely considered as one of cinema's masters. Between this and The Spirit of the Beehive alone, that reputation is wholly justified. After her father disappears in the middle of the night, a young girl reminisces about the nature of their relationship and the secrets her father kept. Now even though this film is not a fantasy at all, the film takes on a truly magical quality thanks of Jose Luis Alcaine's stunning cinematography which evokes an almost childlike sense of wonder, imagination and dread through the use of light and shadows. The ending of this film, which I won't spoil here, will understandably infuriate some people but I think it makes the film all the more special and elevates it to a real master work. This film will probably sneak into my all-time favorites list.

[malcolm1980]

3/7

Chappie (Neill Blomkamp) **1/2 - I still have some goodwill leftover for writer-director Neill Blomkamp after District 9 despite the deeply flawed but still interesting sophomore effort Elysium. I'm hoping his third feature will put him back on the right track. It didn't. This film is about a robot cop who acquires a program which gives him true artificial intelligence and sentience. Not a completely original idea but that doesn't mean there isn't way to make it fresh and exciting. Blomkamp tries VERY hard to make it so but it just ends up being a thematic and tonal mess. There are lots of interesting ideas here which I think could be explored in a better movie but it all ends up half-assed. The visual effects are pretty good and it is fairly entertaining but considering the talent involved, one can't help but be disappointed.

Gate of Hell (Teinosuke Kinugasa) ***1/2 - During the Japanese Civil War, a lower-ranking samurai falls in love with the wife of a higher-ranking samurai and becomes obsessed with her. I honestly was not sure if I was going to like this due to its potentially overly melodramatic content but it worked! I also thought the denouement would be problematic. I won't spoil it but I will say in particular It's almost like Douglas Sirk went to Japan and made a samurai movie (Is that a fair assessment? I'm not sure). It's no Kurosawa but still an excellent film in its own right. The color cinematography is quite brilliant as well.

The Awful Truth (Leo McCarey) **** - This is actually a re-watch. I don't usually review re-watches but I will do so in the occasion when I see a film I haven't seen for a very, very long time. This is one of them. A couple is about to divorce and in the days before their divorce is final, they constantly bicker and make each other's lives miserable disguising the fact that they still love each other. Irene Dunne and Cary Grant are both excellent and Leo McCarey's direction is impeccable. There are sequences that are truly gut-bustingly hilarious even today. Where's the special edition blu-ray of this?

[malcolm1980]

3/10

Parade (Jacques Tati) *** - This is the last feature film from director Jacques Tati and the only one left that I haven't seen...well, until now. I so wanted to love it since it is his last feature but alas, it's also his weakest film (but his weakest film is better than a lot of mediocre director's strongest films). This is originally a made-for-television film shot in multiple formats about Jacques Tati himself performing as part of a circus troupe of clowns, magicians and acrobats. It is a bit like a filmed performance but the key difference is that the audience seems to be just as part of the film rather than just used as reaction shots which makes it stand out. However, it's wildly uneven but parts far better than the whole (but when the scenes hit, they really hit). You can tell that Tati was trying his best but it just doesn't always work. The highlight though is the final scene which I won't spoil here but I will say that it more than justifies the film and makes the entire thing worth watching.

[malcolm1980]

3/11

Stella Dallas (King Vidor) *** - A blue collar woman marries a millionaire playboy left penniless after his father kills himself. After they have a child, they drift apart partly due to their different backgrounds. Problems arise as their daughter grows up to be "sophisticated" like her father but more closer to her mother. It's kind of pure melodrama. It's definitely far from director King Vidor's best work. I've seen similar stories a lot of times in Filipino soap operas but there's one thing that those soaps don't have: Barbara Stanwyck's fantastic performance as the title character. She is especially good in her final scenes where she's absolutely heartbreaking. It's worth seeing the film just for that.