"Lust, Caution" (original theater release 2007) is the English "translation" for this A. L. flick. Despite it's cultural chasms, it's an appealing challenge in which the good girl sexes the bad guy for the cause, to ensnare him. Something goes wrong though. She becomes his lover instead of his mistress, as she had intended. She should have eaten the cyanide. I had thought I would, but I liked the film. In the end, I got enough interpretation.
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Friday, November 13, 2009
Thursday, July 2, 2009
As a Directorial Debut, Just Not as Good as "Blood Simple"
Written and directed by Charlie Kaufman, "Synecdoche, New York" is the most disorienting and disconcerting movie that I've seen since "Eraserhead". Yeah, yeah, that one's a cult classic. C. K. wrote "Adaptation" (o.k.), "Being John Malkovich" (good), and "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" (lousy, and ruining our great physical comedian, Jim Carrey). Syn... is loaded with good actors, but it still got ruint. Roger Ebert said "See it twice". I wish I wouldn't have seen it once. This is a story about a paranoid who spends about 100 years filming in a New York City replica. Touchingly stupid. The film seems to be 100 years in length. Even Philip Seymour Hoffman didn't save this one for me.
Speaking of which P. S. H. is my new fave actor. Good gosh, Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper are as senile as I am. Philip is never brilliant, just great. Effective is his modus operandi. I guess his first major flick was "Boogie Nights". I don't remember him, just Burt and the girls. This guy is in his early 40's, so we hope to see much more from him. Can you imagine the same person playing Truman Capote and a parish priest (no, not in the same movie) equally effectively? Philip pulls off anything that he tries.
Visit my website here.
Speaking of which P. S. H. is my new fave actor. Good gosh, Jack Nicholson and Dennis Hopper are as senile as I am. Philip is never brilliant, just great. Effective is his modus operandi. I guess his first major flick was "Boogie Nights". I don't remember him, just Burt and the girls. This guy is in his early 40's, so we hope to see much more from him. Can you imagine the same person playing Truman Capote and a parish priest (no, not in the same movie) equally effectively? Philip pulls off anything that he tries.
Visit my website here.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Directed and Produced by...
Charles Ferguson. As I watched the documentary "No End in Sight", I had to wonder. Does the nickname "Rummie" mean "Rum Dumb" or "Redrum"? He seems to be the only one "getting" the jokes in his press conferences. By instigating (with distinguished help) the abolition of the pro-U.S.A. Iraqi military squads (and putting them out of work), he achieved, presumably accidentally:
1) An effective genocide, by "allies" against U.S. troops.
2) Anarchy of the worst kind in Iraq.
3) Creation, perhaps, of a solid 3 country bloc against us (of fundamentalist extremists). Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, as a single, focused entity, will be a powerful "Axis of Evil".
Oh well, stuff happens Henny Penny. Comical.
It occurs to me that no North American administration (hopefully) will ever foster the expose' like the Bush guys of the early 21st. century.
Robert Redford. Oh alright, he's not an off-beat director. But he does have an off-beat persona. I had resisted seeing "The Legend of Bagger Vance" for years. Looked sappy. I didn't realize that it was a "sweet" golf movie. I love golf! And I liked the movie. Will Smith, great. Matt Damon, great. J. Michael Moncrief, great. Charlize Theron, you know. It's the first time that I thought I was wrong and I was right. What?
Visit my web site here.
1) An effective genocide, by "allies" against U.S. troops.
2) Anarchy of the worst kind in Iraq.
3) Creation, perhaps, of a solid 3 country bloc against us (of fundamentalist extremists). Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, as a single, focused entity, will be a powerful "Axis of Evil".
Oh well, stuff happens Henny Penny. Comical.
It occurs to me that no North American administration (hopefully) will ever foster the expose' like the Bush guys of the early 21st. century.
Robert Redford. Oh alright, he's not an off-beat director. But he does have an off-beat persona. I had resisted seeing "The Legend of Bagger Vance" for years. Looked sappy. I didn't realize that it was a "sweet" golf movie. I love golf! And I liked the movie. Will Smith, great. Matt Damon, great. J. Michael Moncrief, great. Charlize Theron, you know. It's the first time that I thought I was wrong and I was right. What?
Visit my web site here.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The Late Great Stanley Kubrick, His Best
"Clockwork Orange" is the greatest. One of star Malcom McDowell's great regrets: He never worked with Kubrick again. Well that was Kubrick. He certainly wasn't repetitious. The film is based on a Anthony Burgess novel. Alex (McDowell) and his gang of "droods" get their kicks out of perpetrating the good old "ultraviolence". Outstanding cinematography abounds as do great dialect and costumes. This film was unfairly shunned (although nominated) at the Academy Awards. Too "controversial". Why the controversy? Alex got "cured".
"2001, A Space Odyssey" won an Oscar for Best Special Effects. Duh, that was a tough one to vote on I bet. This is a movie I think that everyone has seen. As usual S.K. was ahead of his time. It is a masterpiece (like most of Kubrick's direction) in which an inanimate object, HAL the computer, steals the show. You'll never forget the compositions "The Blue Danube" and "Also Sprach Zarathustra" after seeing the film. The light show on display as astronaut David (Keir Dullea) goes berserk is the best that I have seen on film. A different kind of horror show than....
"The Shining" is of course based on a Stephen King novel. S. King's stories seldom translate successfully to film. It is a tribute to director S.K. and Jack Nicholson that this one works for sure. By the way, it is a great book also. Kubrick had a reputation for being too much of a perfectionist, but it didn't seem to bother Jack N. (who ad-libbed the famous "Here's Johnny!", which isn't in the book). "Redrum" is in the book and spoken well by Jack's son, Danny Torrance (child actor Danny Lloyd). That is one creepy kid. Well, Jack goes nuts. Goes?! Is I mean.
"Dr. Strangelove..." came out the same year as "Fail-Safe" (directed by Sidney Lumet, 1964) at the height of the "Cold War" vs. the U.S.S.R. It's a little different though. No one except Stanley Kubrick would have had the guts to go with this spoof at that time. Peter Sellers plays three parts to a hilarious "T". He is funny as can be as is George C. Scott. This black and white film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, and of course shunned. Could it be controversial?
"Barry Lyndon" is on the list especially for the (18th. century period) costumes, for which the film won an Academy Award. It also won for cinematography. Both awards were well deserved. Ryan O'Neal stars as an unscrupulous Irishman who cheats his way to the top and then falls hard. It's a pretty good flic story-wise, but especially easy on the eyes. Like, unfortunately, most of Kubrick's work, it's reputation gains traction in retrospect.
Kubrick never won an Oscar for "Best Director". The system failed.
visit my website here.
"2001, A Space Odyssey" won an Oscar for Best Special Effects. Duh, that was a tough one to vote on I bet. This is a movie I think that everyone has seen. As usual S.K. was ahead of his time. It is a masterpiece (like most of Kubrick's direction) in which an inanimate object, HAL the computer, steals the show. You'll never forget the compositions "The Blue Danube" and "Also Sprach Zarathustra" after seeing the film. The light show on display as astronaut David (Keir Dullea) goes berserk is the best that I have seen on film. A different kind of horror show than....
"The Shining" is of course based on a Stephen King novel. S. King's stories seldom translate successfully to film. It is a tribute to director S.K. and Jack Nicholson that this one works for sure. By the way, it is a great book also. Kubrick had a reputation for being too much of a perfectionist, but it didn't seem to bother Jack N. (who ad-libbed the famous "Here's Johnny!", which isn't in the book). "Redrum" is in the book and spoken well by Jack's son, Danny Torrance (child actor Danny Lloyd). That is one creepy kid. Well, Jack goes nuts. Goes?! Is I mean.
"Dr. Strangelove..." came out the same year as "Fail-Safe" (directed by Sidney Lumet, 1964) at the height of the "Cold War" vs. the U.S.S.R. It's a little different though. No one except Stanley Kubrick would have had the guts to go with this spoof at that time. Peter Sellers plays three parts to a hilarious "T". He is funny as can be as is George C. Scott. This black and white film was nominated for 4 Academy Awards, and of course shunned. Could it be controversial?
"Barry Lyndon" is on the list especially for the (18th. century period) costumes, for which the film won an Academy Award. It also won for cinematography. Both awards were well deserved. Ryan O'Neal stars as an unscrupulous Irishman who cheats his way to the top and then falls hard. It's a pretty good flic story-wise, but especially easy on the eyes. Like, unfortunately, most of Kubrick's work, it's reputation gains traction in retrospect.
Kubrick never won an Oscar for "Best Director". The system failed.
visit my website here.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Bros Coen, The Best of
"Blood Simple" was the great debut film by the best storyteller brothers since the Brothers Grimm. Frances McDormand, a favorite of Joel and Ethan C, stars in this crime flick. The quirky M. Emmet Walsh steals the show, in my opinion. Dan Hedaya is Abby's (Frances M.) husband and a strange ranger, of course. LOOK UNDER THE FISH BLOODY BUDDY!
"Fargo" is their best. Frances McDormand is the main character (a nine months prego copper) in beautiful, snowy Fargo, N.D. Her hubby is the reliably effective William H. Macy. Quirky actor Steve Buscemi stars also. The Coens love the crime stuff and this one is (ya hey dere you betcha) a good one. Frances garnered a well deserved "Best Actress" Oscar.
"No Country for Old Men" is J & E's (2007) nicely done film-noir, this one involving drug dealing gone violent. Who would have thunk? Tommy Lee Jones stars as the sheriff. Javier Bardem, a fine actor and Josh Brolin star also. This not too bad film took Best Pic, Best Director(s) and Best Supporting Actor (Bardem) at the Academy Awards ceremony.
"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" is Joel & Ethan's adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey". What? It has a great southern Mississippi soundtrack, which won a Grammy. This is the film that let me know that I had previously under-respected George Clooney as an actor. He is brilliant in this chain gang story. John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson are good as his escapee brothers.
"Raising Arizona" likewise made me respect Nicolas Cage. Holly Hunter is great too in the comedy based on the unlikely premise of a baby's kidnapping. This is a touching film by the Coen Brothers. The always funny John Goodman and Frances McDormand are in this one.
Visit my website here.
"Fargo" is their best. Frances McDormand is the main character (a nine months prego copper) in beautiful, snowy Fargo, N.D. Her hubby is the reliably effective William H. Macy. Quirky actor Steve Buscemi stars also. The Coens love the crime stuff and this one is (ya hey dere you betcha) a good one. Frances garnered a well deserved "Best Actress" Oscar.
"No Country for Old Men" is J & E's (2007) nicely done film-noir, this one involving drug dealing gone violent. Who would have thunk? Tommy Lee Jones stars as the sheriff. Javier Bardem, a fine actor and Josh Brolin star also. This not too bad film took Best Pic, Best Director(s) and Best Supporting Actor (Bardem) at the Academy Awards ceremony.
"Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" is Joel & Ethan's adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey". What? It has a great southern Mississippi soundtrack, which won a Grammy. This is the film that let me know that I had previously under-respected George Clooney as an actor. He is brilliant in this chain gang story. John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson are good as his escapee brothers.
"Raising Arizona" likewise made me respect Nicolas Cage. Holly Hunter is great too in the comedy based on the unlikely premise of a baby's kidnapping. This is a touching film by the Coen Brothers. The always funny John Goodman and Frances McDormand are in this one.Visit my website here.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Well Ya Play That (Quentin) Tarantino, All the Hounds They Start to Roar, His Best
"Reservoir Dogs" has a great title and has one of the greatest gangster casts ever assembled, in my opinion. Tim Roth, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen, and Steve Buscemi (as the sweet "Mr. Pink") are not the most famous names. These guys are great character actors, though. I can't tell you much more without ruining it. Besides those four Misters, there are Mr. Blue and Mr. Brown (who is Q.T. himself). It's great and see it is what I can say. This is Tarantino violent, bloody fun.
"Kill Bill"-volumes 1 & 2 are both great action flicks. The classic two-parter featuring Uma Thurman (she worked really hard to become her character) and arch nemesis David Carradine as Bill. Lucy Liu gives Uma a little grief also. This is one of those rare instances in which the sequel is as good as the initial feature. I consider this pair must-see Tarantino. Uma did her own stunts and martial arts. The movies are worth seeing just for the moves.
"Pulp Fiction" has a pretty neat soundtrack for one thing-mostly oldies. It's a pretty neat movie for another thing. Uma Thurman again (she's the smoker on the famous movie poster), Tim Roth again, John Travolta, and Samuel L. Jackson star in this beauty of a crime film-noir.
"Natural Born Killers" is that unusual movie that you can't watch and can't stop watching. Q.T. did not direct this weirdo but did write the story. Close 'nuff. Leading man and lady Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis have some disturbing issues I would say. I hate to judge but... They are unusual enough actors without the Tarantino factor thrown in. Bonnie & Clyde on steroids. Brilliant violence, directed by Oliver Stone. He has a not so normal reputation himself.
Visit my website here.
"Kill Bill"-volumes 1 & 2 are both great action flicks. The classic two-parter featuring Uma Thurman (she worked really hard to become her character) and arch nemesis David Carradine as Bill. Lucy Liu gives Uma a little grief also. This is one of those rare instances in which the sequel is as good as the initial feature. I consider this pair must-see Tarantino. Uma did her own stunts and martial arts. The movies are worth seeing just for the moves.
"Pulp Fiction" has a pretty neat soundtrack for one thing-mostly oldies. It's a pretty neat movie for another thing. Uma Thurman again (she's the smoker on the famous movie poster), Tim Roth again, John Travolta, and Samuel L. Jackson star in this beauty of a crime film-noir.
"Natural Born Killers" is that unusual movie that you can't watch and can't stop watching. Q.T. did not direct this weirdo but did write the story. Close 'nuff. Leading man and lady Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis have some disturbing issues I would say. I hate to judge but... They are unusual enough actors without the Tarantino factor thrown in. Bonnie & Clyde on steroids. Brilliant violence, directed by Oliver Stone. He has a not so normal reputation himself.
Visit my website here.
INTERMISSION
Here are some great movies we have seen within the last year. They're not all recent but at least current decade. They are good ones.
The Savages (2007) starring Laura Linney & Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Devil Came On Horseback (2007), a documentary about Darfur, Sudan
There Will Be Blood (2007) starring Daniel Day-Lewis
The Assasination Of Richard Nixon (2004) starring Sean Penn
Taxi To The Dark Side (2007), a documentary about torture at Bagram Air Base
Cinderella Man (2005) starring Russell Crowe
Notes On A Scandal (2006) starring Judi Dench & Cate Blanchett
Blood Diamond (2006) starring Leonardo DiCaprio & Jennifer Connelly
TRIVIA: Can you match these quotes to movie and song?
Movie: "We're not in therapy right now, we're in real life"
Song (from movie): "If love is Aces give me the Jack"
Visit my website here.
The Savages (2007) starring Laura Linney & Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Devil Came On Horseback (2007), a documentary about Darfur, Sudan
There Will Be Blood (2007) starring Daniel Day-Lewis
The Assasination Of Richard Nixon (2004) starring Sean Penn
Taxi To The Dark Side (2007), a documentary about torture at Bagram Air Base
Cinderella Man (2005) starring Russell Crowe
Notes On A Scandal (2006) starring Judi Dench & Cate Blanchett
Blood Diamond (2006) starring Leonardo DiCaprio & Jennifer Connelly
TRIVIA: Can you match these quotes to movie and song?
Movie: "We're not in therapy right now, we're in real life"
Song (from movie): "If love is Aces give me the Jack"
Visit my website here.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Alfred Hitchcock, His Best
"The Rope" is not the suspense master's most famous effort, but it is my family's favorite. The initial suspense is alleviated early, when the murder takes place. Then the arrogant extrovert Brandon (John Dall) and his paranoid partner Phillip (Farley Granger) plan the perfect party. They hide the crime under their guests' noses. Of course Jimmy Stewart isn't fooled forever.
"Psycho" is the quintessential Alfred H. Everyone knows this classic, with the most famous of shower scenes and sick twist Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
"Rear Window" stars the unpretentious Jimmy Stewart, one of the best actors of all time, and the lovely Grace Kelly. Of course a murderer is eventually exposed. The cost to Stewart's character: finishing the movie with 2 broken legs after starting the movie with just 1 broken. Although it's Hitchcock suspense, I think that the best parts feature comedic sparring between Stewart and Kelly and Stewart and his nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter).
"Dial M for Murder" stars Grace Kelly and features equally great performances from Ray Millard and Robert Cummings. The detective who figures it all out is as good as "Monk".
"The Birds" stars waif-like Tippi Hedren as a brazen blond who is the first to get attacked by a gull in real-place Bodega Bay, Ca. I'm surprised anyone still lives there. The movie came a little bit late in Hitchcock's Hollywood "Golden Age", but it scared the bird poop out of me when I was young (1963). If you saw Jessica Tandy in "Driving Miss Daisy", she looks a little different here. In due time the birds get a little aggressive with many people in town.
The wife likes "Vertigo" in lieu of "Rear Window". Whatever, Kim Novak isn't as cute as Grace.
Visit my website here.
"Psycho" is the quintessential Alfred H. Everyone knows this classic, with the most famous of shower scenes and sick twist Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
"Rear Window" stars the unpretentious Jimmy Stewart, one of the best actors of all time, and the lovely Grace Kelly. Of course a murderer is eventually exposed. The cost to Stewart's character: finishing the movie with 2 broken legs after starting the movie with just 1 broken. Although it's Hitchcock suspense, I think that the best parts feature comedic sparring between Stewart and Kelly and Stewart and his nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter).
"Dial M for Murder" stars Grace Kelly and features equally great performances from Ray Millard and Robert Cummings. The detective who figures it all out is as good as "Monk".
"The Birds" stars waif-like Tippi Hedren as a brazen blond who is the first to get attacked by a gull in real-place Bodega Bay, Ca. I'm surprised anyone still lives there. The movie came a little bit late in Hitchcock's Hollywood "Golden Age", but it scared the bird poop out of me when I was young (1963). If you saw Jessica Tandy in "Driving Miss Daisy", she looks a little different here. In due time the birds get a little aggressive with many people in town.
The wife likes "Vertigo" in lieu of "Rear Window". Whatever, Kim Novak isn't as cute as Grace.
Visit my website here.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Federico Fellini, His Best
"City of Women" is my favorite by this fellow, even if the critics did not like it. It is a hilarity about a chauvinist pig getting in trouble with a bunch of feminists. Marcello M. stars as usual in the dream sequence movie. The star of the show falls asleep in a train and awakes at the end of the movie. The 2 hour plus interim is exquisitely funny and mind-blowing.
"La Strada" stars Anthony Quinn, Richard Basehart, and Federico's wife Giuletta in the famous tale of love overcoming all abuses. The lead actress is sold to Quinn's "Zampano" and learns to love him. A very heart-rending story. Many critics consider this Fellini's best work. It's my wife's favorite (black & white 1954).
"8 1/2" would be the other critics' favorite. This is Federico's autobiography (he is played by Marcello, of course). It's about a movie director with no ideas who is under a deadline. He don't care about no stinking deadlines, and bulls.... his way through everybody. The quintessential Federico Fellini. (black & white)
"Nights of Cabiria" stars Fellini's wife as a prostitute. But it really is a cute (black & white) story. She would like to find true love but it doesn't happen for her. She never gives up though, and her positive attitude is the key to the story. We shall overcome.
"Satyricon" is a story about Nero's orgiastic Rome. You've just got to see it if you like this director. The collection of unorthodox characters is mind-numbing. It's unreal, bizarre, kooky.
The wife would substitute "I Vitelloni" for "8 1/2". She's wrong but it is good also.
Visit my website here.
"La Strada" stars Anthony Quinn, Richard Basehart, and Federico's wife Giuletta in the famous tale of love overcoming all abuses. The lead actress is sold to Quinn's "Zampano" and learns to love him. A very heart-rending story. Many critics consider this Fellini's best work. It's my wife's favorite (black & white 1954).
"8 1/2" would be the other critics' favorite. This is Federico's autobiography (he is played by Marcello, of course). It's about a movie director with no ideas who is under a deadline. He don't care about no stinking deadlines, and bulls.... his way through everybody. The quintessential Federico Fellini. (black & white)
"Nights of Cabiria" stars Fellini's wife as a prostitute. But it really is a cute (black & white) story. She would like to find true love but it doesn't happen for her. She never gives up though, and her positive attitude is the key to the story. We shall overcome.
"Satyricon" is a story about Nero's orgiastic Rome. You've just got to see it if you like this director. The collection of unorthodox characters is mind-numbing. It's unreal, bizarre, kooky.
The wife would substitute "I Vitelloni" for "8 1/2". She's wrong but it is good also.
Visit my website here.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Let's do (David) Lynch, His Best
"Wild at Heart" is his best in my opinionated vision. Nicolas Cage's best too. Why it wasn't well received (except at Cannes) is something I do not understand. It has great energy, especially the violent beginning. It's just Sailor and Lula (Laura Dern) in a love story. Wow.
"Blue Velvet" showcases weirdness and Dennis Hopper. Wait, that's the same thing. Laura Dern, a Lynch favorite, is in this one, as she is in "Wild at Heart". D.L. got an Oscar "Best Director" nomination for this great & disturbing film.
"Lost Highway" has a brilliant soundtrack and Patricia Arquette has never looked better than in this surrealistic film. Can she act? I don't care. Robert Blake has never looked worse-creeeeepy. This was Richard Pryor's last act, from a wheelchair.
"Mulholland Drive" has great chemistry between Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring and lots of twists. Lynch got a "Best Director" Oscar nomination for this dream sequence, unusual for the genre.
"The Elephant Man" is based on a true story, Lynch style. John Hurt is tremendous as the deformed star. This film garnered Lynch his first "Best Director" nomination in Hollywood, in 1980. He should have gotten the award.
visit my web site here.
"Blue Velvet" showcases weirdness and Dennis Hopper. Wait, that's the same thing. Laura Dern, a Lynch favorite, is in this one, as she is in "Wild at Heart". D.L. got an Oscar "Best Director" nomination for this great & disturbing film.
"Lost Highway" has a brilliant soundtrack and Patricia Arquette has never looked better than in this surrealistic film. Can she act? I don't care. Robert Blake has never looked worse-creeeeepy. This was Richard Pryor's last act, from a wheelchair.
"Mulholland Drive" has great chemistry between Naomi Watts and Laura Elena Harring and lots of twists. Lynch got a "Best Director" Oscar nomination for this dream sequence, unusual for the genre.
"The Elephant Man" is based on a true story, Lynch style. John Hurt is tremendous as the deformed star. This film garnered Lynch his first "Best Director" nomination in Hollywood, in 1980. He should have gotten the award.
visit my web site here.
Offbeat Movie Directors-6 Wild and Crazy Guys
For my money Stanley Kubrick is the best. The reason I think this: Every movie directed by him seems like it's done by a different guy, who seems to be one of the best directors of all time. No style is great style. His record speaks for itself. Basically unflawed.
My wife prefers the Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel, as she says that they can always be counted on to do good work. I cannot disagree. They are consistently quaintly bizarre.
Quentin Tarantino is a most consistently shocking guy: see "Hostel". It ain't quaint. While he didn't direct it he did produce and approve it. Scary, depraved stuff. This guy is way out of control. Violence is a trademark, but it's often funny. "Hostel" ain't funny. If you see it more than once, you I don't want to know.
Alfred Hitchcock is the original king of the macabre. (Edgar Allan Poe didn't make movies.) His "Americanized" stuff is just tremendous. His old movies with the British accents I can't get into much. He always did a cameo in his movies. As a bonus, he had a great TV show with a great theme song ("Funeral March of the Marionette"). You're too young to remember it.
Then there is Federico Fellini. I have 12 of his movies on tape or DVD, so I am fanatical. Everything is in Italian (subtitled in English) though, and some people can't handle that. He's considered one of the greatest European directors, but there's a lot of autobiography in his movies. He's not for everybody, but he's for me. He used very few well known actors. Marcello Mastroianni was his favorite actor.His work has to be watched more than once. Nuns and scaffolding and Rubenesque (Italian) women??
David Lynch is an enigma. His best work is probably better than anybody's. His bad stuff is the worst. "Inland Empire" is hours of black screen-can't see a thing. "Eraserhead" is a cult classic, but it's quirky enough to be creepy. What do I know, I don't like "Rocky Horror Picture Show". This guy is also not for everyone.
Sadly, Hitchcock, Fellini and Kubrick won't be doing any more movies.
Honorable mentions to Clint Eastwood, who does what he wants (it's good and sometimes offbeat) and to Robert Altman, who is inconsistent.
visit my web site here.
My wife prefers the Coen brothers, Ethan and Joel, as she says that they can always be counted on to do good work. I cannot disagree. They are consistently quaintly bizarre.
Quentin Tarantino is a most consistently shocking guy: see "Hostel". It ain't quaint. While he didn't direct it he did produce and approve it. Scary, depraved stuff. This guy is way out of control. Violence is a trademark, but it's often funny. "Hostel" ain't funny. If you see it more than once, you I don't want to know.
Alfred Hitchcock is the original king of the macabre. (Edgar Allan Poe didn't make movies.) His "Americanized" stuff is just tremendous. His old movies with the British accents I can't get into much. He always did a cameo in his movies. As a bonus, he had a great TV show with a great theme song ("Funeral March of the Marionette"). You're too young to remember it.
Then there is Federico Fellini. I have 12 of his movies on tape or DVD, so I am fanatical. Everything is in Italian (subtitled in English) though, and some people can't handle that. He's considered one of the greatest European directors, but there's a lot of autobiography in his movies. He's not for everybody, but he's for me. He used very few well known actors. Marcello Mastroianni was his favorite actor.His work has to be watched more than once. Nuns and scaffolding and Rubenesque (Italian) women??
David Lynch is an enigma. His best work is probably better than anybody's. His bad stuff is the worst. "Inland Empire" is hours of black screen-can't see a thing. "Eraserhead" is a cult classic, but it's quirky enough to be creepy. What do I know, I don't like "Rocky Horror Picture Show". This guy is also not for everyone.
Sadly, Hitchcock, Fellini and Kubrick won't be doing any more movies.
Honorable mentions to Clint Eastwood, who does what he wants (it's good and sometimes offbeat) and to Robert Altman, who is inconsistent.
visit my web site here.
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