the LAST FILM YOU'VE SEEN thread

Mr. Death (1999) - Errol Morris

Fantastic film from Morris. Any fan of his work, particularly of The Fog of War owes it to themselves to see this one. This tells the story of Fred Leuchter who came to notoriety for his advancements in capital punishment, then got involved in a rather large scandal involving the holocaust. Like Morris' other films this is shot in a interesting way, and like his previous films this was also ignored by the Academy, who up until very recently loved horrendously boring documentaries.

What's Exils?

That's the film I mentioned in my post earlier because I just saw it in Toronto. It stars Romain Duris as a French Algerian taking a journey back to his homeland; perhaps I confused you by bringing up Gadjo Dilo.

Niels Gaup: Pathfinder (Ofelas, 1987, 87 minutes)

Sounds intriguing. Although, it doesn't look like it's available on DVD.

Ok why is it that all you film buffs have been leaving out in the cold about comedy-drama. I accidentally tuned into "The Fortune Cookie" twenty minutes into its broadcast over the local PBS station here and discovered comedy-drama made almost forty years ago. Anybody else have other suggestions for comedy-drama movies that I may have missed so I don't continue to get so excited about current comedy-drama movies (though I still believe they are making a pretty good comeback)?

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Pathfinder (Ofelas): ". . .it doesn't look like it's available on DVD."

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I dare say a lot of good things aren't. You could buy a copy for ten or fifteen dollars. Worth it. Or maybe find it at a good video rental store.

I want to see Exils, though Gatlif isn't a great storyteller. But it isn't available on any non-film format.

Found it! German DVD with English subs. It looks like an action film.

It is an action adventure tale. I said that earlier but in cutting down my description for simplicity, took that out.. It is absolutely action adventure, one of the most economical and effective ones I know,with unique atmosphere.

Amazon doesn't list there being a German DVD; how'd you find it--where? Does it have English subtitles, though? Give me the link--I might like to get a copy of it on DVD myself.

The spoken language in the film, by the way, a recreation of an ancient tongue, is beautiful to listen to.

I included the link in my previous post. Find it. ;)

Yes, I see, thanks. I'm still curious how you found that site. Most of the listings I found are only in German and I can't read them.

I ordered it. Shipping costs more than the DVD. Oh, well. Worth it. This is a really neat and little known film.

You're welcome. I've bought from this site before and since I found out that a German DVD exists, I decided to check it. I usually get an order together because the shipping rate is flat. That's a good price for the DVD, though.

It's a long time since I've seen Ofelas - Pathfinder, but from what I can remember, because it is based on an old legend it pretty much follows the pattern of most "hero tales" as applicable to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars A New Hope but in a far more down to earth manner.

I remember there was a scene where because of the pathfinders skills, he manages to make the invaders take a treachorous route that pretty much decimates their forces. I also remember the amazing scenery, definitely one of the stand out points of the film.

It was one that I thought would be a good introductory film for youngsters to the world of foreign films.

I feel as if I've undersold Ofelas, it is worth seeing not just for the story but also for the difficult way of life of the Saami people.

Cheers Trev.

I agree with you on all of that: The Pathfinder (Ofelas) is a great film for young people, but also for any age, and it's a portrait of an ancient people full of flavor (again, the language is a special and wonderful recreation and melodious to listen to). Why'd you have to give away the plot though?

I want to go back and repeat my related recommendation of Philip Kaufman's 1974 The White Dawn, about the stranded American whalers in the nineteenth century adopted by Inuit people; and also the book I learned about it from, Michael Sragow's Produced and Abandoned: The Best Films You've Never Seen, which focuses on forgotten but good movies of the Seventies and Eighties. . Some of them you already know, but some don't come up on lists and are worth seeking out. Ideal for the film nut who''s seen everything.

Re: Pathfinder.

Sorry if I said too much, as I noted it's a good few years since seeing it and it was just a stand-out scene. Oh dear now I've gone and ruined everyones life! :(

Cheers Trev.

I wouldn't go that far. We'd better pass over this quickly though. Have you heard of or seen The White Dawn? . . . . change the subject.

No sorry I haven't heard of it, it was almost certainly unreleased in the UK. Did you find it on video or DVD?

And back to Pathfinder - Ofelas, if anyone gets the chance to see it, make the effort especially if you enjoy something a little different.

End of sales pitch.

Cheers Trev.

Forty Guns (1957)-Samuel Fuller

Well this makes #10 for Samuel Fuller. The film itself is not among his best. Fuller perhaps isn't as home in the old west as he is in the underworld. There are some nice touches, particularly his use of extreme close ups and the always interesting photographic effects. So perhaps style over in this case.

Philip Kaufman's 1974 The White Dawn-- as I said, I found out about it from Michael Sragow's Produced and Abandoned, which was published before there were DVD's. But it is available on both US and Canadian DVD's and tapes. Some pretty cheap. I don't recommend it carelessly. It's as unusual and interesting as Pathfinder, in a different way. It's an adventure shipwreck tale, but also a study of cross-cultural encounters handled with a subtlety one rarely sees. Worth seeking out.

Jiang Wen's Devils on the Doorstep (2002)

Béla Tarr's Family Nest (1979)

Per Fly's The Inheritance (2004)

Wang Xiaoshuai's So Close to Paradise (1999)

I'm re-watching on tape P.T. Anderson's Magnolia, which I admired extravagantly but haven't seen for several years. Interested in considering it in relation to Crash and Short Cuts. I don't know if it's going to impress me so powerfully this time through, but I haven't made up my mind yet. It's still clearly brilliant and inventive in its baroque way.

Have seen Sylvie Testud in several things, but didn't know she was Chantal Ackerman's alter ego. She has seemed to me a powerful, intense, if limited actress, good in the nerve-wracking culture-shock drama, Stupeur et tremblements. She's briefly seen in the lousy Aime ton frère. I just looked her up on IMDb and see she's incredibly busy and has done six more films since Demain on déménage. Personally I've always found Ackerman irritating, but that's just me -- except for the lightweight A Counch in New York, which did quite well here for a little while.

Testud has certainly been quite busy in recent years. Her breakthrough came a little late; it was in the German film Beyond Silence (1996) which was nominated for an Oscar among others. You're right about Aime ton père -- it wasn't very good (both Depardieus were there, I think). Her other popular film is Les Blessures assassines.

I thought we discussed Aime ton père earlier. The interest was seeing both Depardieus and the gossip value (both director Jacob Berger and young Depardieu have famous, dominant fathers); thoroughly useless movie as a movie though. Have not seen Les blessures AKA "Murderous Maids".... I believe it was shown here in theaters but somehow I missed it. Looks like it would be up her alley. I was impressed by her relentless intensity in Stupeur et tremblements, a narrow and unpleasant but compelling and riveting film;* she seems a bit one-note, but that can work well in character roles, given the intensity. Coincidentally Stupeur...etc. was directed by Alain Corneau who also directed Depardieu père et fils in Tous les matins du monde.

*It was also remarkable that she spoke only Japanese in it. If this isn't a language she knew before and she just learned the lines phonetically, that's another sign of her awesome devotion and focus.

I haven't seen Stupeur (I think it's releasing on DVD soon), but how could it be "a narrow and unpleasant but compelling and riveting film," all at the same time, or maybe that's one of its qualities?


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George A. Romero's Land of the Dead (2005)

Can Alain Corneau's Fear and Trembling (Stupeur et tremblements) be both a "narrow and unpleasant and compelling and riveting" film?

I think so. I might even argue that a number of Robert Bresson's films have both sets of qualities. That's the way they happen to work. In Bresson's case, I'd have to say many of them are also great films. I'm not trying to make that claim for Stupeur et tremblements, but without being in any sense a pleasant experience it's still worth watching, especially if cross-cultural encounters interest you. See it and decide for yourself.

CONSTANTINE


I watched the DVD yesterday- Rented it with "Assault on Precinct 13"

Constantine is the film version of "Hellblazer", a very popular comic book.

It's pretty damn good- especially the camerawork and editing.
Some shots remind the viewer of Kubrick- I shit you not.
Tracking shots, crane shots, close-ups- all shots are pristine and well thought-out.

The story is about exorcisms, Satan, hell, angels (yes, with wings) and a golden gun that I wish I owned.
That's all I'll say. Clive Barker could have been the guy who wrote it.

Keanu Reeves is our Exorcist. He's looser and more moody than Neo but it's hard not to compare his acting with what he did in the Matrix movies. He's the go-to guy for dealing with Hell and it's repercussions.

*SPOILERS*

The scenes of Hell and Satan himself are what makes this film extremely entertaining. It's worth sitting through all of the fantastic completely unreal scenarios to see Peter Stormare as Lucifer. His scenes are worth seeing over and over. (Stormare is one of the best character actors in the biz- he was Jeff, the retard who loves Selma in Trier's Dancer in the Dark)
Peter chews the scenery...

That gun Keanu wields is a monster. A gold fat-barrelled cannon, it's bullets are made by a kid who drives a cab (and turns out to be a major supporting player). Think of the gatling gun Jesse Ventura used in Predator- only this one is beautiful and can be held shoulder-high.


The sfx are excellent. It's the kind of sfx that are needed for a surreal, completely outrageous story like this.

It would be easy to scoff at this movie, but I felt we got my money's worth. An above-average action film with high production values.

This is one I can get at Blockbuster. Nicheflix not necessary. I hope to watch it soon.

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Originally posted by Johann
CONSTANTINE

It's pretty damn good- especially the camerawork and editing.
Some shots remind the viewer of Kubrick- I shit you not.
Tracking shots, crane shots, close-ups- all shots are pristine and well thought-out.

The sfx are excellent. It's the kind of sfx that are needed for a surreal, completely outrageous story like this.

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Damn good, indeed.

Great review arsaib4- I missed it.

There's a lot of writing here from some members and I miss some reviews.

I'll probably buy Constantine on DVD- it's a way better time killer than most action movies.

It's the kind of film End of Days should have been.

Thanks, dude. I hope you channel more of your energy talking about films. ;)

OK, I get it- I'll try to stop with the politics.

:)

I saw "Wedding Crashers". Certainly not an "art film" by any stretch of the imagination, but very funny in parts.

Vince Vaughn is rarely used properly. I thought he was, for the most part, quite unfunny in "Dodgeball", "Old School" and "Be Cool". His friend, Jon Favreau, seems to be able to get the best out of Vaughn with very funny manic roles in "Swingers" and "Made".

The same can be said for Owen Wilson who can be very funny ("Bottle Rocket", "Meet the Parents", "Zoolander") or not so funny ("I Spy", "The Royal Tennenbaums")

"Wedding Crashers" uses the talent of both comic actors to great effect and when it focuses on comedy it can be uproarious.

Will Ferrell is at his best in a cameo role here. Ferrell is great for cameos and small roles because he is a scene stealer: "Zoolander", "Austin Powers", "Starsky & Hutch". I feel that he tends to shout all his lines and often confuses "over the top" with funny.

That may be true of Ferrill, but I was pretty damn amused by Elf.

I must say that I'm intrigued by Wedding Crashers. It's certainly not an art film but even some of the snobby critics consider it worthwhile.

I also liked Elf quite a bit.

I want to see Wedding Crashers, though I'm wishing I could avoid the last part where it goes soft and mushy. Elf was pretty good, but Ferrell isn't verybally funny the way Vaughan and Wilson are. You have to give Wilson credit for writing with Anderson. His laid back persona conceals a decent brain obviously.

Directed by Japanese horror master Hideo Nakata, Dark Water (Honogurai mizu no soko kara – I’ve no idea why the Japanese title is so long thus supporting Bill Murray’s wonderment of the language in Lost in Translation), pretty much falls in line with Nakata’s previous films, namely Ringu (1998) and Ringu 2 (1999). (He also directed The Ring Two (2005) and wrote the English language remake of Dark Water called Dark Water but let’s not confuse matters.) Stories involving mothers and their prepubertal daughters have become a trademark of East-Asian horror, and this is no different; although, in an attempt to elevate the material, Nakata has tried to incorporate some social commentary. Yoshimi Matsubara (Kuroki Hitomi) has recently gotten a divorce from her husband (Fumiyo Kohinata) but she’s still involved in a custody battle over their 6-year-old daughter, Ikuko (Rio Kanno). Due to Ikuko’s age, Yoshimi is at an advantage despite her husband’s best efforts, but she needs to stabilize her life, and in order to do so, she’s moved into a new apartment even though it seems like a less than ideal place. Initially, things seem to be okay until Yoshimi gets dogged by hallucinations of a young girl in a yellow raincoat with her red lunch bag which may have a connection to her past. Also, the ceiling of the apartment starts to drip through the ever widening stain. For long stretches, Dark Water feels like a minimalist relationship drama so many genre fans are bound to be disappointed. It certainly doesn’t help that this film, which was released to much success in Japan 3-years-ago, has taken this long to reach our shores. The problem being that this material has mutated into so many shapes that for many it’ll be hard to tell between the original and a copy. All’s not lost though. Nakata stages a couple of remarkable sequences in the final third of the film including one in an apartment besieged by water. Production values are top notch, but the film could’ve benefited from a better leading performer. Ultimately, Nakata also falters by revealing someone who was making more of an impression otherwise.


Grade: C

I understand the title "Honogurai mizu no soko kara" means "from the bottom of the gloomy waters." I'm surprised you didn't mention more speficially the recently released American-based Walter Salles "copy" starring Jennifer Connelly (is she the "better performer" you wanted with the original -- or just prettier? -- or even that?), which has not done well critically (I have not rushed out to see it)and wonder if you're going to compare it with this. Maybe it would rate a C- or a D+?

went to see Dark Water, but my movie passes were no good so alas can't comment.

I did however get to watch Ken Burns' Civil War, which took three days, so hurrah it's done. Keeps it interesting, and I have not seen his other films, so can't judge it based on those. But since I was taking a US History class, I figured his film would be more interesting than the textbook.

wpqx: "went to see Dark Water, but my movie passes were no good...:

Perhaps that's some sort of a sign.


Chris:

Thanks for the "translation." I'm not a big Salles fan to begin with (to me he has always compromised his products in one way or the other) so I'm not sure if I wanna watch his remake of an original I didn't like. Although, I've read that there are some good supporting turns from John C. Reilly and the always watchable Tim Roth. As for the performance of Ms. Kuroki -- at times we underestimate the cultural/behavioral differences that play a part in the performance of actors (perhaps only N. American women are prone to start screaming at a drop of a hat). Having said that, I thought she was a bit underwhelming. But you'll happy to know that she's just as pretty as Mrs. Connolly.

arsaib-- I'd agree Salles looks to be going downhill. But I guess you didn't even like Central Station. For me it had a kind of raw power. The Motorcycle Diaries was watchable and a great vehicle (pun unfortunate) for Garcia Bernal but pretty soft core. Now we have a horror movie remake. Some like it, but I can understand your not wanting to go; if you'd just bite the bullet and see it, you could have made your review more complete, spanning both versions. But you may not be into bullet-biting right now.

[-- -- -- cattiness warning -- -- -- ]

I developed an aversion for Ms. Connolly with Beautiful Mind, a movie I happen to detest, and I was not one of the fans of House of Sand and Fog. She's certainly gotten some good jobs -- Inventing the Abbotts, Dark City, Waking the Dead, Requiem for a Dream, Pollack, Ron Howard's grade A tripe, Hulk, she's positively B-grade A-List. I think I can't stand her. (I was not one of the big fans of Requiem for a Dream either, though of course since Jared Leto is so pretty, they had to have somebody really pretty like Jennifer to go with him.)