Malcolm1980's 2020 Review Thread

[malcolm1980]

12/28

Peter Ibbetson (Henry Hathaway) *** - Based on a novel by George du Maurier, this is about two childhood sweethearts who get separated then meet again as adults. But unfortunate circumstances prevent them from pursuing their love. This is the second film I've seen this month about two people who started out as childhood sweethearts but with not-so-happy endings to their relationship. This is the far more resonant one because I thought the love they had for each other was more heartbreaking and convincing thanks to a strong first act. The film drops the ball a little on the third act fantasy resolution but overall it is a nice little heartbreaking weeper of a love story that features a nice performance from a young Gary Cooper and Ann Harding.

[malcolm1980]

12/29

Twilight of a Woman's Soul (Yevgeni Bauer) *** - After a fever dream, a wealthy socialite decides to try and help the less fortunate and this act of charity leads to a series of events that would change her life forever. This is yet another film from Russian director Yevgeni Bauer. It is a 1913 silent film and I must say it is probably one of the earliest feminist films and quite possibly, without spoiling it, one of the earliest #MeToo films. I know this is a Russian film but I'm really surprised at how very progressive it is even for its time in the way it tackles the themes that it tackles. It may not be completely successful but you have to admire the ambition and progressive thinking. It's an interesting film from the Russian silent era.

[malcolm1980]

12/30


J'Accuse (I Accuse) (Abel Gance) ***1/2 - A woman is married to a man with a violent temper then she has an affair with the poet next door. Then the First World War breaks out and both men are conscripted. This is an epic silent war film from director Abel Gance who also directed the breathtaking silent biopic Napoleon which was a masterpiece and you can see elements of that here. Even though this one is quite a bit shorter than Napoleon, it does feel a bit too long for me. That said, there are lots of moments of powerful beauty in this piece, most especially in the final act. Although it falls short of a masterpiece, it is a silent epic worth checking out.

Tenet (Christopher Nolan) **1/2 - FINALLY! Christopher Nolan's latest film concerns a CIA agent recruited to stop a plot involving a Russian oligarch and time travel. That's about as simple way I can explain the plot without requiring a dissertation on quantum physics. Writer-director Nolan's obsession with the concept of time continues with this high-concept, stylish science fiction that only he could make. Personally, I think he bit off more than he could chew this time because I thought the concept and science of it is a bit muddled. I'm still not sure I completely got what was going on. I even turned on the close captioning so I could follow the exposition. I enjoy films that make you figure things out and engages you in that way but this film made it way too complicated and it becomes way too over-plotted and . That said, I still enjoyed it quite a bit. The second half in particular is bravura filmmaking. I enjoyed it more when I quit thinking about how it all works. Oh, I broke down and decided to watch this, um, not in theaters. I got tired of waiting.

[malcolm1980]

12/31

My Favorite Wife (Garson Kanin) ***1/2 - Years after his wife is lost at sea and presumed dead, a man finally declares her legally dead so he can remarry. But things get complicated when that wife finally shows up alive. There's nothing quite like a Cary Grant comedy even more so, there's nothing quite like a Cary Grant comedy when paired up with Irene Dunne. This may not be as declared a classic as The Awful Truth but there's plenty of laughs to be had in this. Oh, Randolph Scott is in this one and if you know about the rumors between him and Grant, a couple of scenes may make you laugh for more than one reason. This is a nice perfectly breezy screwball comedy that's well worth your time.

The Beaches of Agnes (Agnes Varda) **** - In this documentary, legendary director Agnes Varda turns the camera on herself and reminisce about her life, her art, her career, her family and everything. Autobiographical documentaries, I find, sometimes become self-indulgent and pretentious. Not this. This is a beautiful, heartfelt expression of a woman reflecting on her life. This was made in 2008. She would make a few more films and live for another 11 years but this feels like a perfect swan song for a life well-lived. It is funny, moving, inspiring, fascinating. I find myself falling in love and wishing I could give Agnes Varda a hug (not that I wasn't already a fan of hers). This is my final film for 2020. This is the perfect, life-affirming and hopeful film to end this very trying year.