Categories: cinema
Date: 19 February 2009 01:58:20
I'm hoping to see Rachel Getting Married soon. Looks like an interesting movie. I will have to travel a bit, it only being at cinemas around the city -- heaven forbid anyone "out west" would be interested. I am a member of an independent cinema chain with cinemas in the city so at least I can get cheaper tickets by heading in.
I saw Slumdog Millionaire last month; I thought it a very well produced, acted and scripted movie -- it was truly intriguing how the plot unfolded. A bit more violent [and one "Ewwwww...." moment] than I had expected, but all-in-all a mesmersising film with mesmerising performances.
Agata e la tempesta (2004) [Agatha and the Storm] was an enjoyable-enough extremely quirky Italian comedy about chasing dreams and love, the impact and experiences of the past. Perhaps a bit over-long, but when you have the bright and vivid colours in this film, enjoyable characters, and a lead who explodes light bulbs & computers, and changes traffic lights, upon things going a bit awry in her life, there is plenty to enjoy.
The Bank (2001) was an average Australian film with an interesting premise about a mathematician who may be able to predict the movements of the financial markets. Great acting, by David Wenham and Anthony LaPaglia in particular, but I simply was not that interested or that involved.
I have continued renting earlier films as well. The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) was the first I saw: what fun! It truly seems as if actors relished and loved their roles back then [and did a great number of stunts themselves as well!] Errol Flynn was wondrous as Robin and Basil Rathbone a particularly nasty Guy of Gisborne. A good old-fashioned story with laughs, actions, love and more, accompanied by great music. The final swordfight scene was simply great.
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) was something very different; perhaps my ignorance but I had not known what it was about and was rather surprised to find it was about a former Korean War POW is brainwashed by Communists into becoming a political assassin. I had trouble believing this movie from the start, so I never got into it, but in terms of acting [particularly from Angela Lansbury in a role that is definitely not Murder, She Wrote!] and cinematography this is a great film.
Finally, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Wow. And wow again. This movie is one superb psychological thriller -- with a fair dash of comic relief as well. Some may seem it as a bit dated in terms of production and the setting, as well as the fact the violence is "implied" and not seen [though this made it all the more frightening for me], but if you can get past that if it bothers/distracts you, you are in for a treat. Bette Davis and Joan Crawford are simply superb in the leading roles -- and they play their roles for all they are worth -- Davis in particular. Add to this the musical accompaniment and a truly tragic and heart-wrenching plot and to me you have a classic.
And, of course, I cannot mention What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? without linking to French and Saunders' parody, What Ever Happened to Baby Dawn?, which I now enjoy far more after having seen the original.