With a new decade of indie films, the 1980's are a beacon of flickering sadness, misfits and demented edginess into post modernism...we no longer wanted the epic sweeping tale but the segmented selections that represented our lives...not one fluid story but small pieces that make up who we are ....no one understands this better (or by accident) than Jim Jarmusch....
Stranger Than Paradise - (1984)- Two friends and a girl..the age old story..but told in tiny kitchen, a beach side motel - with cigarettes and stilted male style dialogue....with out growth, understanding or anything really happening...you stumble upon the scene and can't take your eyes off them.
Dead Man - (1995) - an epic tale, with many things happening..yet Jarmusch still manages to pull it into the post-modern segmented nothing story that we love. Johnny Depp is not icon nor lovely but stiff, small and odd- surprising cameos dot the landscape and Gary Farmer steals the movie.
Limits of Control -(2009) - If you haven't experienced a Jarmusch film, do not watch this one first....Its not his best - its not overly interesting - its not even a good film for film study - but its riveting, watchable and romantically filmed. A character unlikable and cold our assassin becomes child like and automaton - giving way to secrets, affairs and silliness.
Friday, July 20, 2012
Thursday, July 19, 2012
yeah..I hate these movies ....because they made me cry
Dear Film Nuts,
I'm back, I'm angry, I'm hurt. I'm not going to say nice things about these movies .....mostly....cus life sucks.
The Film Maven
Untamed Heart - (Director Tony Bill, 1993) - I have to admit, Christian Slater has had an interesting career for someone who can't act ....He is hammy, generally Christian in most roles and obviously trained in the soap opera world of head tilts instead of expression school of acting (ala Meg Ryan) ...but he does have a knack for picking awesome movies ..(Yes, Heathers is one of my all time favorites) ....how that works, I'm not sure I can explain.....Marisa Tomei on the other hand, a soap opera veteran herself, is an amazing actress with some odd but not great films to her credit and some incredible films and perfect roles...how that works I'm not sure I can explain either ...but in this really bad, super sad, yes you should watch it film ....The baboon heart boy is just so stupid you want to smack him really hard before she jumps into bed with him.
Seven Pounds - (Director Gabriele Muccino, 2008) - Will Smith has a gift, he is good looking, smart, funny, can sing and chooses movies with a charm like no other. Seven Pounds (what weighs that you might ask...and google the answer) is a film we would not choose for him, Rosario Dawson is not a woman we would cast him with, Barry Pepper is never ever in a serious role fer sure, ......and the ending is one that Hollywood should never approve of given its history in film ending switcheroos.....Every moment is somewhat riveting ..you seek the sadness set up by mood and music ...but can't stop watching..because that great Hollywood ending is going to happen, right? (2 tissue boxes even if you already know).
City of Angels - (Director Brad Silberling, 1998) - Speaking of Meg Ryan, she is here in this my least favorite film of all time. Okay, I exaggerate - but I do really hate this film. but not because its bad, but because it caught me up, for goodness sakes it states that Angels live at the LIBRARY and if you know my passion for the library ..well..that is just incredible screenwriting ...and then ...they mess it all up by forcing a bit of reality all over the ending. That is just so so wrong. When I sit through a movie, especially a love story I want my true hollywood ending PLEASE.Thank you. However, Dennis Franz as an angel..now that is just funny.
(Please also note, director Brad Silberling was caught up in his own tragic real life event...his girlfriend Rebecca Schaefer, known for her role the the Pam Dawber TV show My Sister Sam, was murdered by an obsessed fan in 1989).
I'm back, I'm angry, I'm hurt. I'm not going to say nice things about these movies .....mostly....cus life sucks.
The Film Maven
Untamed Heart - (Director Tony Bill, 1993) - I have to admit, Christian Slater has had an interesting career for someone who can't act ....He is hammy, generally Christian in most roles and obviously trained in the soap opera world of head tilts instead of expression school of acting (ala Meg Ryan) ...but he does have a knack for picking awesome movies ..(Yes, Heathers is one of my all time favorites) ....how that works, I'm not sure I can explain.....Marisa Tomei on the other hand, a soap opera veteran herself, is an amazing actress with some odd but not great films to her credit and some incredible films and perfect roles...how that works I'm not sure I can explain either ...but in this really bad, super sad, yes you should watch it film ....The baboon heart boy is just so stupid you want to smack him really hard before she jumps into bed with him.
Seven Pounds - (Director Gabriele Muccino, 2008) - Will Smith has a gift, he is good looking, smart, funny, can sing and chooses movies with a charm like no other. Seven Pounds (what weighs that you might ask...and google the answer) is a film we would not choose for him, Rosario Dawson is not a woman we would cast him with, Barry Pepper is never ever in a serious role fer sure, ......and the ending is one that Hollywood should never approve of given its history in film ending switcheroos.....Every moment is somewhat riveting ..you seek the sadness set up by mood and music ...but can't stop watching..because that great Hollywood ending is going to happen, right? (2 tissue boxes even if you already know).
City of Angels - (Director Brad Silberling, 1998) - Speaking of Meg Ryan, she is here in this my least favorite film of all time. Okay, I exaggerate - but I do really hate this film. but not because its bad, but because it caught me up, for goodness sakes it states that Angels live at the LIBRARY and if you know my passion for the library ..well..that is just incredible screenwriting ...and then ...they mess it all up by forcing a bit of reality all over the ending. That is just so so wrong. When I sit through a movie, especially a love story I want my true hollywood ending PLEASE.Thank you. However, Dennis Franz as an angel..now that is just funny.
(Please also note, director Brad Silberling was caught up in his own tragic real life event...his girlfriend Rebecca Schaefer, known for her role the the Pam Dawber TV show My Sister Sam, was murdered by an obsessed fan in 1989).
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Movie Thoughts, odd rumbles and Where have you been?
oohhh...movie freaks ....its been an odd odd year .....Won't make you cry with details of my tragedy......but the Filmmaven will be a little macabre for a while ...bare with me ....the perky will probably return at some point .....so lets get some sad sad movies, a mixture of salty sweet treats, a large box of tissue and find the ramblings of sweet sweet torture on film.......................(and no we haven't forgotten the coffee portion of our blog, french roast beans mixed with a touch of hazelnut and a smidgling of light roast...so so wicked) .
Crybaby - (John Waters, 1990) - Yes Johnny Depp lovers, he is the teen idol of my youth.....nothing says so like Crybaby..a John Waters nod to the sparkle on Davy Jones' tooth, the glimmer in David Cassidy's eyes...not top in the dialogue for a Water's film, but the visual elements, the surprise coyness of the direction and not to forego the lone tear drop ....makes this film a must watch for which YOU are not the one crying....
The Color Purple - (Novel by Alice Walker, Film directed by Steven Spielberg, 1985) - There are too many moments in this film that you had better keep that box of tissue close by and not watch with someone you harbor angry feelings towards cus you will want to exact revenge on someone at several parts. Whoopie Goldberg easily becomes the lovely, dim victim Celie, as does Oprah Winfrey as the has to be tough Sofia ....great elements of dramatic cinema take place between the lines...its best to watch it once for its story and again later to note some of the creative directorial choices.
UP - (Pixar, 2009)- Many young people complain this film is too sad ...For us of a certain age, its beautiful and sweet with a few sad moments .....to have a love for most of your life, loosing them is hard but the having is so so worth it and something we need to treasure ....but then the strange part of Carl's life begins and opens up to what his love wanted for him....a gift of adventure. Extremely well done, neatly paced and surprising through out ....Just FUN!! but keep a tissue or two in your pocket (or tucked up your sleeve).
Crybaby - (John Waters, 1990) - Yes Johnny Depp lovers, he is the teen idol of my youth.....nothing says so like Crybaby..a John Waters nod to the sparkle on Davy Jones' tooth, the glimmer in David Cassidy's eyes...not top in the dialogue for a Water's film, but the visual elements, the surprise coyness of the direction and not to forego the lone tear drop ....makes this film a must watch for which YOU are not the one crying....
The Color Purple - (Novel by Alice Walker, Film directed by Steven Spielberg, 1985) - There are too many moments in this film that you had better keep that box of tissue close by and not watch with someone you harbor angry feelings towards cus you will want to exact revenge on someone at several parts. Whoopie Goldberg easily becomes the lovely, dim victim Celie, as does Oprah Winfrey as the has to be tough Sofia ....great elements of dramatic cinema take place between the lines...its best to watch it once for its story and again later to note some of the creative directorial choices.
UP - (Pixar, 2009)- Many young people complain this film is too sad ...For us of a certain age, its beautiful and sweet with a few sad moments .....to have a love for most of your life, loosing them is hard but the having is so so worth it and something we need to treasure ....but then the strange part of Carl's life begins and opens up to what his love wanted for him....a gift of adventure. Extremely well done, neatly paced and surprising through out ....Just FUN!! but keep a tissue or two in your pocket (or tucked up your sleeve).
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