|
Most of my entertainment comes from books and internet, but I decided recently to try and watch movies again. Most of these are older titles and hopefully somewhat off the beaten track.
The Baby
![[image loading]](http://filmfanatic.org/reviews/wp-content/uploads/2006/11/Baby-Poster.jpg)
One night I randomly turned on Turner Classic Movies, and just caught the end of this super weird movie called Sonny Boy about a man in the rural south who finds a kid, cuts out his tongue, and raises him like a dog to murder people. If that's not weird enough, he also has a transvestite wife played by David Carridine. Directly following that was a show that was just as bizarre called The Baby. It's about an older woman and her two adult daughters who live with her son that is basically an adult baby. A young attractive social worker gets assigned to the case, and things get sinister really fast.
It is a horror and exploitative film, but somehow with such good acting that there are moments of genuine tenderness and terror. It's amusing that such a bizarre, cheap-thrill type of movie should develop characters more compelling than many well plotted, high budget productions. I can't say I'd recommend this movie, because it's really uncomfortable to watch, but if you like rubbernecking at car accidents, or just being titillated by the truly bizarre and taboo, then you might like it. The acting is very strong.
Stalker
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/d4/Stalker_poster.jpg)
Last year I watched Solaris by Andrei Tarkovsky (same director as Stalker) and it really touched me deeply and has haunted me ever since. Stalker is similar in a lot of ways. It is slow moving, with lots of silence, and questions of spirituality and philosophy always looming no matter what is happening in the plot. It's hard to describe the plot: basically a "stalker" is someone paid to lead people into a mysterious and dangerous zone, where there is supposed to be a room that grants your heart's desires.
I felt impatient in the beginning because I couldn't figure out what was going on and why people were doing what they were doing (might be the translations in the subtitles). If you're an impatient person I think this movie would be too exasperating to finish. However if you go through the whole thing there's a lot of satisfaction contemplating it afterwards. It's like a long novel, where you can step back at the end and appreciate the structure and unanswered questions. I won't generalize to all Russian literature, but having read a lot of Dostoevsky I feel like Tarkovsky's films are very much in the same spirit. Their art is deeply spiritual, and they depict doubt, anguish and redemption with overwhelming compassion and love.
Citizen Kane
![[image loading]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/ce/Citizenkane.jpg)
A few weeks ago I watched my first Orson Welles film called Mr. Arkadin. I didn't care for it much, because of its frenetic pace and very unlikable protagonist. Orson Welle's acting in it was very fascinating though. He's one of those people that are not just good looking but have a presence that is hard to take your eyes off of. For some reason he reminded me of Malcolm X, who had that quality as well.
Citizen Kane has a similar plot to Mr. Arkadin: basically a rich and reclusive man has a secret in his past that we are trying to find out. What struck me about this film is how well it captures the American spirit. The fast paced dialogue, and the headlong rush into the future contrast sharply with the meditative moments, and the shadows of European culture. I feel it's very similar in plot and spirit to The Great Gatsby. Reading about Welles it seems he had a lot of similarities to F. Scott Fitzgerald as well. They were both Midwesterners, handsome and obscenely talented, who met success early, became the darlings of both Europe and America, yet seemed fated for a tragic and unhappy end.
Anyway I'd feel stupid "recommending" a film that's considered by many the best ever made. It wasn't without flaws (frenetic pace, and some unsympathetic characters), but it's certainly a unique experience to watch, especially to see Welles' acting.
---
That's all for now. I forgot to add the last two movies are visually full of beauty. Would love to hear what other people thought of these movies, or whatever comments you feel like sharing.
|
I've watched Citizen Kane and read The Great Gatsby and I they do have somewhat of a similar feel... which may explain why I really didn't like either. Gatsby and Kane both just really really pissed me off. Kane perhaps a little bit less. They both have their problems, but I could not empathize whatsoever with Gatsby and over time it became harder and harder to empathize with Kane. Perhaps there's some commentary done by Fitzgerald and Welles.. but... I think I'd be quite happy for the rest of my life never rereading/rewatching either.
|
On May 05 2014 14:52 Koromon wrote:
I've watched Citizen Kane and read The Great Gatsby and I they do have somewhat of a similar feel... which may explain why I really didn't like either. Gatsby and Kane both just really really pissed me off. Kane perhaps a little bit less. They both have their problems, but I could not empathize whatsoever with Gatsby and over time it became harder and harder to empathize with Kane. Perhaps there's some commentary done by Fitzgerald and Welles.. but... I think I'd be quite happy for the rest of my life never rereading/rewatching either.
Interesting. Come to think of it I don't really find Kane or Gatsby "likable" either. There's something empty and cold about them. I think they gain humanity from the love and sympathy other characters (who are likable) have for them. Although Gatsby's love for Daisy seemed genuine and made me feel for him. For me the artist is separable from their character though, and I think Fitzgerald's writing is the most beautiful in English prose, and I'm definitely curious to see Welles' act in other roles (might check out his adaptation of Othello next). Thanks for chiming in.
On a side note, tried to watch District 9 tonight and couldn't finish it. I hate stuff that is ultra violent without reason, and the reality show style camera work and interviews was super annoying. Seemed kind of racist too, with the typical "evil German guy" and evil voodoo Africans. Only watched about 30 minutes though, maybe it got better later on.
|
Feel free to check out the "Movies You Have Seen Recently" thread. It's a good place to talk about movies. Your posts will probably get read, but maybe unfortunately won't get a lot of direct replies though.
|
Definitely watch district 9. I felt like you did at first and almost stopped watching, but as it progressed it got quite a bit better.
I suggest you read more about Citizen Kane. Knowing the background can make it quite a bit more interesting.
Although I haven't seen Stalker, I know that it was filmed in my home-country.
|
If you enjoyed those two films by Tarkovsky, I could perhaps recommend a few more. While most of his films are like the two you mentioned ('abstract', if you will), a few play out in a more conventional way as well. Among those I personally loved both Ivan's Childhood and Andrei Rublev.
|
On May 05 2014 23:30 WarSame wrote:
Feel free to check out the "Movies You Have Seen Recently" thread. It's a good place to talk about movies. Your posts will probably get read, but maybe unfortunately won't get a lot of direct replies though.
Thanks I will check it out.
On May 06 2014 00:19 Bunn wrote:
Definitely watch district 9. I felt like you did at first and almost stopped watching, but as it progressed it got quite a bit better.
I suggest you read more about Citizen Kane. Knowing the background can make it quite a bit more interesting.
Although I haven't seen Stalker, I know that it was filmed in my home-country.
I'll give it another try in the future hopefully. I finally stopped when they were torturing the guy to get him to shoot the alien weapons, just seemed too pointlessly violent. I read a little bit about the Citizen Kane background, like how the guy it was supposedly based upon tried to get it censored. Your home country is very beautiful, or at least the outdoor spots Tarkovsky chose for filming. It's amazing to me how a location filled with trash and chemical waste could still be so beautiful.
|
On May 06 2014 01:02 126Q;A1 wrote:If you enjoyed those two films by Tarkovsky, I could perhaps recommend a few more. While most of his films are like the two you mentioned ('abstract', if you will), a few play out in a more conventional way as well. Among those I personally loved both Ivan's Childhood and Andrei Rublev.
I definitely want to watch more of his work, thank you for the recommendations. It seems like most of his films are available to watch online. I don't know if it violates copyright but seems like youtube would have censored if that were the case:
http://www.openculture.com/2010/07/tarkovksy.html
I'll be interested to see how he does a more conventional narrative. He seemed like a really unique guy... watched a few interviews with him.
|
I watched The Baby. It was weird as hell.
|
On May 06 2014 10:44 staceymarie123 wrote:
I watched The Baby. It was weird as hell.
lol agreed. Weirdest movie I've ever seen I'd say.
|
|
|
|
|
|
EPT
