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Chris, I was slightly puzzled when I read your post on "Dominick Moll: With a Friend Like Harry (Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien, 2000)". It seemed very familiar then I realised it was just a change of name and I had seen it a good while ago under the name "Harry, He's Here to Help".
I can't remember her name but I'm pretty sure the girl from "L'Ennui" was in it as well?
Cheers Trev.
trevor--
Yes, the English and American titles were different. It has had a variety of names, but the French title as you'll see on IMDb is "Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien." I'm sorry, I haven't seen "Ennui," but you mean Sophie Guillemin, who plays Harry's girlfriend.
"With a Friend Like Harry" is a more honest translation and makes more sense than "Harry, He's Here to Help", pretty decent film from what I can remember.
And yes it was Harry's girlfriend.
Cheers Trev.
I also liked Mad Hot Ballroom quite a bit.
Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien borrows from just about everyone but I agree with you and Trevor that it has its moments.
Haven't seen Belvaux's trilogy.
First of all, young Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone needs to be commended for having not taken the route of his counterparts after the success he had with his previous film The Embalmer (2003). Having said that, his latest feature, Primo Amore ("First Love"), which is undoubtedly a unique and personal effort, is also a bit oblique and underwhelming. Vittorio (Vitaliano Trevisan) is a lanky, shaven-headed goldsmith who seeks perfection when it comes to the human mind and body (not unlike his crafts). Through a classified, he ends up meeting a soft-spoken young woman named Sonia (Michela Cescon), an art-school model, who he instantly recognizes as someone who could meet his ideals. Sonia is a bit hesitant at first because of Vittorio’s unflattering remarks about her weight, but Garrone slowly reveals to us that she isn’t particularly happy about the way she looks so she ends up falling for Vittorio’s watchful gaze. After the couple move into a derelict mansion somewhere in Verona, Vittorio’s obsession increases, but Sonia more or less continues to oblige to his masochism which leads her to become a ghost of herself. Much like his previous feature, Primo Amore is a visually confident effort from Garrone. The gothic-colored palette is employed quite well in this strikingly shot film. What isn’t particularly striking is the narrative. Garrone probably would’ve been better off situating it a century or two ago because there are a few implausibilities associated with the time-frame. If this is some sort of a statement about the beauty and fashion standards that women have to live up to then he’s too forthcoming and a bit disillusioned. Trevisan’s straight-forward performance certainly doesn't help matters; it needed to be more evasive and subtle. Though, the Berlin and David di Donatello award winning music from Banda Osiris definitely meets all demands for a film which only seems agreeable due to the consistency of Garrone’s vision, as flawed as it may be.
Grade: C+
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*PRIMO AMORE is now available on DVD from Strand Releasing.
I shall probably have to see Primo Amore some time, though I think from what I've read and heard it's far more unpleasnat watching than your description implies; I have liked Garrone's earlier efforts and agree he's a welcomely individual and quirky director, especially in the climate of Berlusconi and Muccino's crowd-pleasers.
Re-watched for the second time in the past few days: Cavale (Trilogy 1: On the Run) by Belgian-born Lucas Belvaux. I have not looked up reviews of this lean, workmanlike and highly focused but somehow ultimately lacking film. Too many following shots, and the procedural detailing of the escaped leftist revolutionary/terrorist on the run played by filmmaker/writer Belvaux himself turns too much into just dogged running--ultimately pretty much to nowhere. But the actors can't be faulted, and I have to see parts 2 and 3; maybe what you have to say is that even if Belvaux isn't up technically to a plot requiring more of a Jason Bourne franchise budget and production staff, he's to be congratulated for undertaking a multiple-genre trilogy project of this kind, with its potential for richness and depth, at all. Probably the most interesting aspect of part 1 is how it contemplates the plight of a revolutionary who's all alone without any fellow revolutionaries or, according to Catherine Flot's character, the "masses" he claims still support his aims. He's isolated, deluded, dangerous, even -- with all his fake moustaches and hairpieces -- comic; but his intensity and passion are real and strangely touching.
War of the Worlds (Steven Spielberg). Not bad in the ways critics had led me to believe, quite entertaining, but without any depth as an experience, unlike A.I.
Grizzly Man A documentary about an American who thought he was the friend of Alaskan bears and spent 14 summers living among them in a wildlife preserve (possibly against gov't regulations) and finally got eaten up -- along with his poor girlfriend -- by a mean and hungry one in the autumn after he would usually have been gone and his bear "friends" were all hibernating and replaced by new wilder meaner ones. Made by Werner Herzog the famous offbeat German filmmaker, who has made movies about crazy originals before, using a lot of footage left behind by the guy. A disturbing picture of what happens when humans lose touch with the line separating them from wild animals. Indigestible (no pun intended), disturbing and thought provoking, this will be one of the best documentaries of the year on my list.
I will post a review at least of Grizzly Man.
Yeah, Primo Amore isn't something you need to see right away, but it isn't violent or painful in anyway.
Still haven't decided whether to watch War of the Worlds or not. I'm a little turned off by the smugness of Spielberg and Cruise.
Herzog is having a huge year. Can't wait to see Grizzly Man. It's right up there with Murderball as the best reviewed doc of the year.
Strings (2004)
Directed by Anders Rønnow-Klarlund
A dark fairytale that plays out like a very simplified Shakespearian tragedy with suicide, murder, love, revenge, sacrifice and a lot more besides.
There is little if anything original about the plot but what makes this stand out is the fact that the puppet strings are integral to the characters lives. This is shown in a number of ways such as the suicide right at the start, the King, ashamed of what he’s done leaves a note for his son then takes his knife and cuts the string that’s attached to his head, this causes his death. There are many clever little touches to show the effect of the strings throughout the film such as the design of the city gate which is a single bar that’s raised, preventing the strings to pass under.
It’s a strange one though, there are moments which are too dark for children and most adults won’t be bothered simply because it’s a puppet play and fairytale like, so who would enjoy it?
Well I did, I enjoyed it for the little touches and the sheer artistry of the puppeteers plus the way the strings were integrated into the story, and also I like a good Shakespeare style tragedy. The rest of the audience seemed enthralled as well but this was an art-house cinema, it didn’t make it to the multiplexes, not in Cardiff anyway, unfortunately this will mean the majority will miss out on something enjoyable which is a shame.
A definite recommendation for those who like to try something a little different. If you get the chance to see it, especially in the cinema then take the opportunity.
Cheers Trev.
BBFC rated PG.
It went straight to dvd here so a theatrical screening is not possible. I'll rent it based on your recommendation. Gracias.
Grizzly Man seems quirky and offbeat but when you think about it it becomes very rich and significant, both as reference to Herzog and as a study of the kitsch anthromorphism of nature promoted in so many movies and TV shows. I can't compare Murderball because haven't seen it.
I haven't seen Bad News Bears either, but it seems to be less like Bad Santa (which I have seen) than I assumed at first and more a remake of the original that's an updating but doesn't add much, hence this is another one where you need to see both to describe and compare the new model completely, though that wouldn't necessarily change your impressions of the new one or your rating of it.
I went to see
War of the Worlds to see the end-of-the-world effects especially in the early part. They were worth seeing. I wanted to see it on a big screen and I wish the screen had been even bigger. My friend says Batman Begins is much better. Certainly War of the Worlds is pretty empty otherwise, but not quite in the ways reviews had led me to believe. Everything happens so Cruise's character can become a mensch, they said. It didn't really read that way so much to me. But that doesn't make it a good movie. Still, with world-class mise-en-scene, you have to admire the visuals, and Spielberg is a master at maniputating crowds, compare A.I., the fun fair sequence. But A.I. is way more interesting that this and so is that sequence. It seemed to me that much of what Spielberg was trying to do in War of the Worlds was done better in Haneke's 2003 Le temps du loup/Time of the Wolf.
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004)
Well I was bound to eventually see this, and my motivation to see it jumped considerably recently (maybe it's the Spanish class I'm taking). I must say I enjoyed the film quite a bit. While it's no masterpiece, and probably wouldn't make any list of mine from last year, it was not the dreck I thought it might be. The characters were great, and even if it's a somewhat standard coming of age film, well it's been a while since it's been done. Thumbs up, and nice work to have Che's first time not be with a prostitute (which at least puts it above similar French movies).
I will say that the editing annoyed me. Road movies should be full of extremely long shots (ala Robby Muller), and this was edited like a music video, shame on you all.
You're absolutely right. I found it hard to talk about this movie because I enjoyed it as much as you did, but couldn't single it out as a significant statement about anything. Definitely not dreck. Had not thought that about the editing. There are certainly lots of road shots of the pair on the motorcycle, but you may be right.
Yeah, you're right. But watching an obnoxious Billy Bob will certainly remind you of his performance in Bad Santa.Quote:
Originally posted by Chris Knipp
I haven't seen Bad News Bears either, but it seems to be less like Bad Santa...
I wanted to see it on a big screen and I wish the screen had been even bigger. My friend says Batman Begins is much better. Certainly War of the Worlds is pretty empty otherwise, but not quite in the ways reviews had led me to believe. Everything happens so Cruise's character can become a mensch, they said. It didn't really read that way so much to me. But that doesn't make it a good movie. Still, with world-class mise-en-scene, you have to admire the visuals, and Spielberg is a master at maniputating crowds, compare A.I., the fun fair sequence. But A.I. is way more interesting that this and so is that sequence. It seemed to me that much of what Spielberg was trying to do in War of the Worlds was done better in Haneke's 2003 Le temps du loup/Time of the Wolf.
No matter what, Spielberg can certainly come up with some interesting set-pieces, and I've heard a lot about certain sequences from the film. Even someone as cynical as Atkinson was impressed. But if your friend said that Batman Begins is much better then I'm not sure because I certainly wasn't impressed with Nolan's effort. I'll try to see it, if not for anything else than to just add to your new thread (good idea, by the way).
It's safe to say, even without watching War of the Worlds, that there isn't much common between the Spielberg and the Haneke films, other than the apocalyptic landscape. Time of the Wolf dealt with what happens afterwards which is much more interesting I think. Haneke's vision was so pure that it possibly ended up impeding whatever success the film might've had.
You're basically right of course. But The funny thing, though, is that it's already pretty much "afterwards" in War of the Worlds too, but they don't acknowledge that in the screenplay. The fact that the planet has been trashed by the dying aliens is disregarded in favor of the little family reunion, which is flat-out stupid, but somehow satisfies an unthinking audience.Quote:
It's safe to say, even without watching War of the Worlds, that there isn't much common between the Spielberg and the Haneke films, other than the apocalyptic landscape. Time of the Wolf dealt with what happens afterwards which is much more interesting I think.
Hence the situation --the danger of losing people, being separated, starving- isn't completely different even if the two films naturally do feel completely different and I think the human intereactions in Hour of the Wolf are vaguely echoed by Spielberg's movie, but in a more limited way because there are fewer characters and more emphasis on the set pieces-but it's all more intense in Haneke because the big budget destruction process is skipped. I'm glad you don't think the new War of the Worlds thread is redundant. My friend has completely different taste from me -- the one who preferred Batman Begins to War of the Worlds -- but I'd guess B.B. does have more content that W.O.T.W.; and opinions differ on B.B., but some do think it an improvement over recent Batman flicks. I wouldn't be qualified to say, haven't yet seen it or all the earlier ones, and am not enthused about doing so. My immediate program for new flicks in local theaters now is (probably):
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
Red Eye
Murderball
Happy Endings &
2046
(though I have a DVD of 2046 and have already watched it various times)
The Talent Given Us is also open here and may be an important new entry in the small indie category.
I may miss Winterbottom's 9 Songs. I missed 24-Hour Party People so I have nothing to compare it to by him, other than Welcome to Sarajevo, which doesn't seem very relevant, and it's hard to get to now.
Grizzly Man is going to rank very high among the movies I've seen in theaters this summer. Junebug was also good, and of course Last Days brilliant.