Last night, I investigated three very different films set in America, in the film noir Tension (John Berry, 1949; 8/10), an experimental film taken both as a comedy and a tragedy, Melinda and Melinda (Woody Allen, 2004; 7/10) and my Curtain Call, as best film of the day, a look at pre-Civil War conditions in southern USA from the eyes of a kidnapped African-American gifted husband and father, 12 Years a Slave (Steve McQueen, 2013; 10/10), as well as two short films: La Chambre (Chantal Akerman, 1972; 6/10) and Drumb and Drumber (Michel Gondry; 8/10). I was very pleased with the film noir--just as you figured you knew what was going to happen, it ventured into a new, even more promising direction. Its sad that Berry had trouble with blacklisting and that as a result much of his work is not well known. I had only been familiar with a sequel he had made (The Bad News Bears Go to Japan) late in his career, but this is far better, and just goes to show what promise his career may have had, had his early US years not been so wrongfully troubled. Though it was intriguing to see Will Ferrell as Woody Allens surrogate, and get some well-written lines for once, its certainly a minor work for Allen, and wont win him more fans, but simply preaches to the converted, as it were. It was simply a neat coincidence that it had as one of Melindas lovers Chiwetel Ejiofor, who nine years later would end up nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for starring in the exemplary 12 Years a Slave. Ive now seen all three of Steve McQueens features, and I love all of them, and would rank them, if I had to, 1) Hunger; 2) 12 Years a Slave; and 3) Shame. Though I have yet to see Gravity, 12 Years a Slave certainly proved no injustice in winning its Best Picture Oscar. It swept my Five Stars for cinematic excellence, which were: --Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor --Actress: Lupita Nyongo --Director: Steve McQueen --Cinematography: Sean Bobbitt (good thing Lorena Bobbitt wasnt the editor) --Soundtrack: Hans Zimmer. All the best this weekend, from Film Club! =)
Posted on: Fri, 18 Jul 2014 22:53:21 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015