1CliffBurns
Started off the New Year with a GREAT one.
Maura Delpelo's "Vermiglio". It takes place at the end of the Second World War, Italian soldiers deserting, melting away, many going home. One returning son brings along a Sicilian, a fellow deserter who saved his life, both of them intent on waiting out the war. The Sicilian catches the eye of the daughter of an influential local family, the two marry but, well, life is never as simple as that.
Amazing, gorgeous locale--a remote district in northern Italy, the people insular and gossipy, the Church a central pillar of their lives.
Note perfect.
LOVED this film.
The trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=701RfY55ppQ
Maura Delpelo's "Vermiglio". It takes place at the end of the Second World War, Italian soldiers deserting, melting away, many going home. One returning son brings along a Sicilian, a fellow deserter who saved his life, both of them intent on waiting out the war. The Sicilian catches the eye of the daughter of an influential local family, the two marry but, well, life is never as simple as that.
Amazing, gorgeous locale--a remote district in northern Italy, the people insular and gossipy, the Church a central pillar of their lives.
Note perfect.
LOVED this film.
The trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=701RfY55ppQ
2SandraArdnas
I started 2026 with a bang as far as movies are concerned. Watched several from last year, with One Battle After Another and Sentimental Value being clear standouts. The former is Paul Thomas Anderson at the top of his game I haven't seen since Magnolia way back. It is also incredibly timely, though obviously it was made before the return of Trump and the ICE raids. The latter is Joachim Trier's family drama that tackles all sort of things, including the power of art to express the inexpressible as Klee would say.
Also liked Lanthimos' Bugonia, a wacky but poignant take on conspiracy theories and aliens, with amazing performances by the leads. Also, never met a del Toro movie I didn't like, and Frankenstein is no exception, which is visually absolutely gorgeous as expected.
Also liked Lanthimos' Bugonia, a wacky but poignant take on conspiracy theories and aliens, with amazing performances by the leads. Also, never met a del Toro movie I didn't like, and Frankenstein is no exception, which is visually absolutely gorgeous as expected.
3CliffBurns
"Cover-Up", a documentary on the life of investigative reporter Seymour Hersh.
A lot to admire about Hersh--helping publicize the My Lai massacre (and others) in Viet Nam, not to mention writing the absolute best book on the Kennedy era, THE DARK SIDE OF CAMELOT.
But he ain't perfect and despite his fervent conviction I still don't believe the U.S. was behind the Nordstream pipeline explosion.
Brusque, prickly, self-righteous...a flawed human being who has spent decades exposing the deep dark secrets. But remember Nietzsche's admonition not to stare into the abyss too long...
Now playing on Netflix.
A lot to admire about Hersh--helping publicize the My Lai massacre (and others) in Viet Nam, not to mention writing the absolute best book on the Kennedy era, THE DARK SIDE OF CAMELOT.
But he ain't perfect and despite his fervent conviction I still don't believe the U.S. was behind the Nordstream pipeline explosion.
Brusque, prickly, self-righteous...a flawed human being who has spent decades exposing the deep dark secrets. But remember Nietzsche's admonition not to stare into the abyss too long...
Now playing on Netflix.
4CliffBurns
"Train Dreams" last night, made for and airing on Netflix.
Exemplary adaptation of Denis Johnson novella.
Joel Edgerton is a tremendous actor, conveying so much with a single glance.
Humane and mature and worthy of the praise it's received.
Exemplary adaptation of Denis Johnson novella.
Joel Edgerton is a tremendous actor, conveying so much with a single glance.
Humane and mature and worthy of the praise it's received.
5CliffBurns
"The Big Animal", directed by Jerzy Stuhr.
Released in 2000, based on a screenplay by the great Kyzysztof Kieslowski (written back in the 1970s).
A middle-aged couple find a camel (of all things) grazing serenely in their garden.
At first alarmed, they grow attached to the creature. Initially their fellow townspeople are curious and bemused, but jealousy and suspicion soon rear their ugly heads.
Utterly charming, the cast wonderful.
Released in 2000, based on a screenplay by the great Kyzysztof Kieslowski (written back in the 1970s).
A middle-aged couple find a camel (of all things) grazing serenely in their garden.
At first alarmed, they grow attached to the creature. Initially their fellow townspeople are curious and bemused, but jealousy and suspicion soon rear their ugly heads.
Utterly charming, the cast wonderful.
6Cecrow
Spent time this past weekend getting reacquainted with Kevin Sullivan's 1985 television production of Anne of Green Gables starring Megan Follows and the late Jonathan Crombie. I suspect modern audiences wouldn't care so much for its production values or some of the acting, but to me it still holds all the charm that it did originally. Megan's rendition will always be the one I imagine when I revisit the series. A significant change the passing years have inflicted on me: I'm doing far more relating to Matthew Cuthbert than spending any effort on dreaming myself into Gilbert's shoes as I used to.
7CliffBurns
Jules Dassin's "Rififi" last night.
One of the original caper films and good fun.
The budget was very limited (according to an interview with Dassin in the "Supplements"), but they made their dollar go a long way.
Dassin was forced to leave the States because he refused to name names to HUAC, making films in both Italy and France.
One of the original caper films and good fun.
The budget was very limited (according to an interview with Dassin in the "Supplements"), but they made their dollar go a long way.
Dassin was forced to leave the States because he refused to name names to HUAC, making films in both Italy and France.
8CliffBurns
>6 Cecrow: As I recall, the great Richard Farnsworth also starred in that production.
Loved that guy.
Loved that guy.
9RobertDay
>7 CliffBurns: Rififi resulted in my going through a phase of watching French gangster movies. I particularly rated two films by Jacques Becker, Touchez pas au grisbi (Hands off the loot, 1954) and a prison-break film Le Trou (The Hole, 1960).
10CliffBurns
>9 RobertDay: I hear ya.
When it comes to crime and suspense, the French do it so well. Hard to beat Jean-Pierre Melville and Henri Georges Clouzot.
When it comes to crime and suspense, the French do it so well. Hard to beat Jean-Pierre Melville and Henri Georges Clouzot.
11CliffBurns
Had a lot of fun re-watching Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" last night.
Sherron and I saw it when it first came out back in 1985 and decided to watch it again after learning of the death of the brilliant Catherine O'Hara.
Paul Hacket, played by Griffin Dunne, thinks he's hit the jackpot when he makes a date with a beautiful woman he meets at a late night diner. He shows up at the loft where she's staying, meets her strange sculptress room-mate and things start to go to hell from there...
Not a typical Scorsese flick by any stretch of the imagination, but well made, with plenty of cameos (including Cheech and Chong) to keep things interesting.
Sherron and I saw it when it first came out back in 1985 and decided to watch it again after learning of the death of the brilliant Catherine O'Hara.
Paul Hacket, played by Griffin Dunne, thinks he's hit the jackpot when he makes a date with a beautiful woman he meets at a late night diner. He shows up at the loft where she's staying, meets her strange sculptress room-mate and things start to go to hell from there...
Not a typical Scorsese flick by any stretch of the imagination, but well made, with plenty of cameos (including Cheech and Chong) to keep things interesting.
12CliffBurns
We watched Mike Leigh's latest, "Hard Truths", and found it remarkable.
Patsy has spent her entire life furious at the world, taking out her frustration on friends, family and anyone unfortunate enough to cross her path (doctors, dentists, store clerks). She's mean, she's a bully, she's abusive...and she's also clearly broken.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste is stunning in the lead role, every frame of the film convincing.
Highly recommended.
Patsy has spent her entire life furious at the world, taking out her frustration on friends, family and anyone unfortunate enough to cross her path (doctors, dentists, store clerks). She's mean, she's a bully, she's abusive...and she's also clearly broken.
Marianne Jean-Baptiste is stunning in the lead role, every frame of the film convincing.
Highly recommended.
13CliffBurns
The aforementioned Mike Leigh and the magnificent Jim Broadbent combine on a short pseudo-biography that says much about British history and the mindset of the "ruling class":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdikUsUvUoA
Saw this years ago, but was recently reminded of it by a friend.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdikUsUvUoA
Saw this years ago, but was recently reminded of it by a friend.
14CliffBurns
Two VERY different films in the last 2 nights:
"The Whales of August", the last film directed by Lindsay Anderson. Very tired and creaky (based on a stage play) and despite its distinguished cast there are few fireworks onscreen. A disappointing dud.
"The Spiderwick Chronicles", directed by Mark Waters. Based on the bestselling YA series...but I confess I got it from the library because I discovered John Sayles was one of the screenwriters. The first 2/3 are mildly entertaining but the last part is overblown and silly; nobody dies and the universe is restored and all is well. The end.
Yuck.
"The Whales of August", the last film directed by Lindsay Anderson. Very tired and creaky (based on a stage play) and despite its distinguished cast there are few fireworks onscreen. A disappointing dud.
"The Spiderwick Chronicles", directed by Mark Waters. Based on the bestselling YA series...but I confess I got it from the library because I discovered John Sayles was one of the screenwriters. The first 2/3 are mildly entertaining but the last part is overblown and silly; nobody dies and the universe is restored and all is well. The end.
Yuck.
15CliffBurns
Wonderful Czech adaptation of "The Pied Piper of Hamelin".
Love the stop motion photography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfLZyXR3X8
Love the stop motion photography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAfLZyXR3X8
16CliffBurns
"Days of Heaven", a 1987 film written and directed by Terence Malick.
A rewatch: first saw it 30 years ago.
Malick has never really impressed me--there's something self-conscious and portentous about his stuff that's always turned me off. "Badlands", his first film, is still his best. After that he started believing the press clippings and hype and decided he was a genius.
The amazing photography in "Days of Heaven" merely distracts from the monotonic performances and the sense that the film itself is completely soul-less.
I know Malick has his admirers: I ain't one of them.
A rewatch: first saw it 30 years ago.
Malick has never really impressed me--there's something self-conscious and portentous about his stuff that's always turned me off. "Badlands", his first film, is still his best. After that he started believing the press clippings and hype and decided he was a genius.
The amazing photography in "Days of Heaven" merely distracts from the monotonic performances and the sense that the film itself is completely soul-less.
I know Malick has his admirers: I ain't one of them.
17CliffBurns
A round of applause, please, for Jon Nguyen's 2016 documentary on David Lynch.
"The Art Life" pretty much says it all: Lynch was much, much more than a revolutionary film-maker (to my mind "Eraserhead" is one of the ten best films ever made), he was also a provocative and original visual artist.
Cinema is barely touched on...the film is an exploration of a subversive and disturbing visionary, a truly unique mind.
Highly recommended.
"The Art Life" pretty much says it all: Lynch was much, much more than a revolutionary film-maker (to my mind "Eraserhead" is one of the ten best films ever made), he was also a provocative and original visual artist.
Cinema is barely touched on...the film is an exploration of a subversive and disturbing visionary, a truly unique mind.
Highly recommended.
18CliffBurns
I'm not into contemporary horror, it's too gruesome, the violence pointless and exploitative BUT I was convinced to watch Andrew Semans' "Resurrection" and despite the gory ending thought it extremely well made.
Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth are magnificent.
Hall plays a woman who's rebuilt her life two decades after succumbing to the "charms" of Roth, a man who demanded absolute obedience, brooking no resistance. Now she's spotted him again and has no doubt he's come back to reclaim her, his cult-like aura removing all resistance.
But this time she's got a young daughter to fight for...
Psychologically believable and consistent AND a genuinely spooky film.
Rebecca Hall and Tim Roth are magnificent.
Hall plays a woman who's rebuilt her life two decades after succumbing to the "charms" of Roth, a man who demanded absolute obedience, brooking no resistance. Now she's spotted him again and has no doubt he's come back to reclaim her, his cult-like aura removing all resistance.
But this time she's got a young daughter to fight for...
Psychologically believable and consistent AND a genuinely spooky film.
19CliffBurns
Another thriller, David Koepp's 2020 film "You Should Have Left".
A bloodless horror film, with some nice jolts throughout. The cast--Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried--are quite good and the gal playing their little girl, Avery Essex, is amazing.
Troubled family travels to a house in Wales "to get away from it all".
The house first becomes a maze, then a trap. Nightmarish, reminding me more than once of THE SHINING.
A bloodless horror film, with some nice jolts throughout. The cast--Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried--are quite good and the gal playing their little girl, Avery Essex, is amazing.
Troubled family travels to a house in Wales "to get away from it all".
The house first becomes a maze, then a trap. Nightmarish, reminding me more than once of THE SHINING.
20CliffBurns
Last night we watched Albert Brooks' first full-length movie "Real Life".
The movie was made in 1979 and I hadn't seen it before. My introduction to Brooks was 1981's "Modern Romance", where he played a whiny, neurotic film-maker trying to win his girlfriend back.
I love "awkward", cringe-worthy comedy and Brooks always manages to pull it off effortlessly.
"Real Life" is great fun and set the stage for "mockumentaries" to come.
Recommended.
The movie was made in 1979 and I hadn't seen it before. My introduction to Brooks was 1981's "Modern Romance", where he played a whiny, neurotic film-maker trying to win his girlfriend back.
I love "awkward", cringe-worthy comedy and Brooks always manages to pull it off effortlessly.
"Real Life" is great fun and set the stage for "mockumentaries" to come.
Recommended.
21CliffBurns
Sherron and I are both Western fans and watched "Pale Rider" tonight, Clint Eastwood's homage to the genre. References to "Shane" and "3:10 to Yuma", among others.
A stranger rides into town and acts as protector to a community of miners threatened by a greedy land baron. A good cast and, of course, beautiful scenery.
A stranger rides into town and acts as protector to a community of miners threatened by a greedy land baron. A good cast and, of course, beautiful scenery.
22im_ripindra666
guy I need proxy
23CliffBurns
We went to see "Hoppers", Pixar's latest animated effort, at our local cinema last night.
It was...o-kay.
Young girl struggles to prevent local nature spot being destroyed by development. She becomes involved with science team designing robot animals so they can better observe flesh and blood creatures. Some good bits but doesn't hold a candle to Pixar classics like "Toy Story" or "Finding Nemo".
It's cute and charming, that's about it.
It was...o-kay.
Young girl struggles to prevent local nature spot being destroyed by development. She becomes involved with science team designing robot animals so they can better observe flesh and blood creatures. Some good bits but doesn't hold a candle to Pixar classics like "Toy Story" or "Finding Nemo".
It's cute and charming, that's about it.
24CliffBurns
"The Company of Strangers", Paul Schrader's adaptation of Ian McEwan's early novel.
Not as good as it could have been--Rupert Everett and Christopher Walker were miscast, in my view, but Natasha Richardson and Helen Mirren fare much better.
Lovely cinematography, the city of Venice another character in the movie, labyrinthine, with evil at its heart.
Passable, but nothing great.
Not as good as it could have been--Rupert Everett and Christopher Walker were miscast, in my view, but Natasha Richardson and Helen Mirren fare much better.
Lovely cinematography, the city of Venice another character in the movie, labyrinthine, with evil at its heart.
Passable, but nothing great.
25CliffBurns
Watched "It's Never Over", a documentary of the brilliant but too brief life of singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley.
Very good film, lots of archival footage, great soundtrack and I think the film-makers and the witnesses they interviewed really did capture the essence of the man.
Recommended.
Very good film, lots of archival footage, great soundtrack and I think the film-makers and the witnesses they interviewed really did capture the essence of the man.
Recommended.
26CliffBurns
A short film featuring the Irish band Kneecap. Love the combination of the music and poignant narrative on grief:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXv1RvAZF0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXv1RvAZF0
27CliffBurns
Alex Winter's documentary "Zappa" is a must-see.
An in-depth examination of a complex artist and man.
One of the best films of this kind I've seen in a long while.
Highly recommended.
An in-depth examination of a complex artist and man.
One of the best films of this kind I've seen in a long while.
Highly recommended.
28CliffBurns
"A Real Pain", starring Jesse Eisenberg (who also wrote and directed this effort), Kieran Culkin, Jennifer Grey and Will Sharpe.
Two cousins undertake a tour in memory of a beloved grandmother and Holocaust survivor, visiting various sites in Poland, including the Majdanek concentration camp.
Well acted and genuinely moving, a meditation on how the past still resonates with us, decades or generations after the fact.
Recommended.
Two cousins undertake a tour in memory of a beloved grandmother and Holocaust survivor, visiting various sites in Poland, including the Majdanek concentration camp.
Well acted and genuinely moving, a meditation on how the past still resonates with us, decades or generations after the fact.
Recommended.
29CliffBurns
"Attenberg", a Greek film written and directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari.
Very strange film concerning a young woman obsessed with the nature documentaries of David Attenborough and who has difficulty relating to her fellow human beings. Her best friend coaches her about sex and, meanwhile, her father is gradually succumbing to the effects of an aggressive cancer.
An odd movie, quite unique, and therefore we found it appealing and, yes, original.
Very strange film concerning a young woman obsessed with the nature documentaries of David Attenborough and who has difficulty relating to her fellow human beings. Her best friend coaches her about sex and, meanwhile, her father is gradually succumbing to the effects of an aggressive cancer.
An odd movie, quite unique, and therefore we found it appealing and, yes, original.
30CliffBurns
I have seen some mighty strange films in my time but last night it was "The Old Man Movie", an animated effort from Estonia, and that one pretty much baked my brain.
Impossible to sanely summarize, suffice to say if you love animation and farm animals and characters who sweat milk and wield chainsaws, well, this one might be for you.
We enjoyed it immensely, but it's definitely not a film for kiddies or the faint-hearted.
Impossible to sanely summarize, suffice to say if you love animation and farm animals and characters who sweat milk and wield chainsaws, well, this one might be for you.
We enjoyed it immensely, but it's definitely not a film for kiddies or the faint-hearted.
31KatrinkaV
>30 CliffBurns: The last Estonian film I saw was “November,” and it totally blew me away. Visually gorgeous, and I guess I’d call it nuanced folk horror. Probably saw it about a year ago, and I’m still thinking of it.
