B- Mystery/drama Written by David Birke; from the novel by Philippe Djian Directed by Paul Verhoeven Paul Verhoeven's new film, Elle, is silly, tasteless, and unbelievable. And kind of fun to watch. But then, that's what you should expect from the man who made Basic Instinct, Total Recall, and Showgirls. Paul Verhoeven makes strange, violent, disturbingly … Continue reading Elle: Very much a Paul Verhoeven movie
Category: Drama
Drama
Louise Brooks at the New Mission
I confess. I was wrong. I gave G.W. Pabst's Diary of a Lost Girl a B+ in this week's newsletter. I should have given it an A. Pabst's second film starring Louise Brooks is a better film than I had recalled. Or maybe the movie seemed better because the music was better. That can happen … Continue reading Louise Brooks at the New Mission
Denial at the Albany
Wednesday night, I went to the Albany Theater to see Denial. They were screening the drama in the big, downstairs theater. I thought I was going to be the only person in the audience. But as the trailers were starting, I heard someone sit down a few rows behind me. I turned around, saw a man, … Continue reading Denial at the Albany
A+ List: Do the Right Thing
For a 27-year-old film, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing feels very much like the here and now. The only obvious difference is that when cops kill an unarmed black man, no one records it on their cellphone. By focusing on a few blocks of Brooklyn's Bed Stuy neighborhood over the course of one very … Continue reading A+ List: Do the Right Thing
Jean Renoir and Spike Lee at the PFA
I saw two highly-regarded classic films Saturday night at the Pacific Film Archive. This was not a double feature. They were about as different as good films can be. The Golden Coach This was my first experience with Jean Renoir's 1952 commedia dell'arte about, well, commedia dell'arte. It's also about arrogant aristocrats, starving artists, and, … Continue reading Jean Renoir and Spike Lee at the PFA
Moonlight shines new light on the inner city
A Drama Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney; based on his play Directed by Barry Jenkins Moonlight is the best new American film I've seen this year. With the advantages of a white skin, it's easy to assume certain stereotypes of those on the margins--especially African Americans living in what is now called the inner city. Writer Tarell … Continue reading Moonlight shines new light on the inner city
A Man Called Ove returns to community
A- Comic drama Written by Hannes Holm, from a novel by Fredrik Backman Directed by Hannes Holm Even the most warn-out, commercial plots can work when the filmmakers do something original with them. And that's very much the case with this dramatic comedy from Sweden. Consider the cliché of the crotchety old man who hates everybody, … Continue reading A Man Called Ove returns to community
Chimes at Midnight Blu-ray Review
Orson Welles boiled down five related Shakespeare plays, found the comic tragedy at their core, and created a masterpiece. Chimes at Midnight, also known as Falstaff: Chimes at Midnight, has been unavailable in anything like a complete version for decades. With the recent theatrical restoration, and Criterion's new Blu-ray based on that restoration, it's finally … Continue reading Chimes at Midnight Blu-ray Review
Love, romance, and a whole lot of problems bubble up in The Intervention
B+ Comedy-drama, but mostly drama Written and directed by Clea DuVall All romantic relationships have problems, and those problems provide fodder for this very funny relationship drama (or maybe it's a very serious comedy). But according to Annie (Melanie Lynskey), only one couple is supposed to have problems here, and everyone else is supposed to … Continue reading Love, romance, and a whole lot of problems bubble up in The Intervention
Coming of age in a sad, sad world in James Schamus’ touching Indignation
A Coming of age drama Written and directed by James Schamus From the novel by Philip Roth Most coming of age movies leave you feeling optimistic. No matter what horrible things happen to the protagonist, you know that everything will come out alright. Not this time. In James Schamus' directorial debut, you slowly begin to … Continue reading Coming of age in a sad, sad world in James Schamus’ touching Indignation
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