Tag: Movies

Movie reviews

What Kind of Film Buff Are You? by Sam Van Hallgren

Emma3 Comments

The Moviegoer

Barely a week goes by that the Moviegoer has not made a pilgrimage to the local multiplex, perhaps several. This category of movie buff looks forward to watching the latest, checking out at least one new release a week and devoting section of their blogs to discussing new trailers, highlighting the latest film buzz and predicting award winners. If they can afford the time and money, they’ll go to a film festival and watch at least 20 new films, writing about as many as possible. If you want to talk about the latest hit or dud, this is the movie buff to find.

The Classicist

On the other end of the spectrum, The Classicist usually prefers his or her films in black and white, possibly 4:3 aspect ratio and has seen more films starring Bergman, Bogart, Davis and Grant than Hathaway, Pitt, Downey Jr. and Portman.  While these buffs usually hang out in the 40’s and 50’s, they often explore the decades surrounding them. These buffs prefer to dig into the treasure trove of classics that have withstood the test of time than brave the multiplex.

The Cultist

This rebellious movie buff loves exploring the more marginalized areas of cinema: sci-fi, the b-movie, horror and more. These movie lovers both love to praise the bizarre, bad and broken films for their discovered charm as well as love to hate on atrocities against humanity. A lot of cult classics and b-movies comprise their list of favorites. If a film has the title featuring the word blood, demon, world, or a random scientific terms, this is the moviegoer that has probably seen or heard of it.

The Cinephile

Exploring the other margin of cinema, The Cinephile is a globetrotter who explores cinematic gems from directors you probably haven’t heard of from countries you didn’t even know made movies. The Cinephile singing the praises of 3 hour trials in patience and films that strain the boundaries of what film is.

The Curator

Lists, bodies of works, categories. The Curator is often a completionist, looking to either watch all the films of a particular director, or check off all the films on a list. They are known for focusing in specific genres or being experts on certain directors. They are also known for making and sharing their own lists. These lists can range from genre, year, country or any other cohesive label for categorizing films.

The Academic

Three viewings or more later, The Academic dives into exploring a film or set of films in depth, researching theoretical topics and reading as much writings on the film as they can find. These movie viewers, while exploring, often settle down into specific areas and then hone down on very specific films or topics, devoting many hours to watching and rewatching particular films, digging deep into the details in the hope of discovering and contributing worthwhile, well-supported and deep insights about a particular film or film related subject.

NOTE: The above are only excerpts.  For the full article, go to Cinema Sights.

AFI Latin American Film Festival: How to Win Enemies (Argentina)

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NOTE: This is a SPOILER-FREE review. 

como-ganar-enemigos-posterLucas Abadi (Martin Slipak), a humble/soft-spoken/kind young lawyer w/ a love for detective novels, is pulled into his OWN real-life crime story in this “neurotic thriller” directed by Gabriel Lichtmann.  The director (in a Q&A after the screening) said that his wife assisted him in writing the final version of the film.  He was influenced by the work of Alfred Hitchcock and Woody Allen, who he thanks in the closing credits.

Como ganar enemigos_brosLuqui (as he is nicknamed by those close to him) has been saving to buy his own apartment.  He’s also to be the best man at his big brother’s (and fellow law partner) wedding.  Luqui is (pleasantly) surprised when a tall/blonde/pretty secretary, Barbara, flirts w/ him, then gives him her card in a local bar.  His friend urges him to go after her.  Of course, drama (and trouble) ensues!

como-ganar-enemigos_spyingThis was a FUN, crowd-pleasing movie (as noted by critics from ALL over the world).  The leading man is VERY likable, even when he gets into shades of gray behavior (to help a needy client).  WHO could be HIS enemy, we think!?  The music suits the film also very well- it’s got a BIT of tension (when needed); that’s a nod to Hitchcock, I’m sure.  Another thing I liked- the Jewish heritage of the main characters is in the background, BUT not a big point in the story.

 

The Lusty Men (1952) starring Robert Mitchum

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The Lusty Men_poster

One ‘o the things that’s wrong is all the books and rules on success is written by successful men.  Now that’s wrong.  Fellers like you and me’d get a lot more help if the books and rules on success was written by a failure. That’d make sense.  -Jeremiah, the humble, old, bachelor farmer who lives in Jeff’s former family house explains (in a sort of epilogue to the main story)

This is a film that seems tailor-made for Robert Mitchum; it has drama, GREAT dialogue, a love triangle, and plenty of action/thrills (involving the rodeo)!  I just learned that it was directed by the prolific Nicholas Ray (In a Lonely Place, Rebel Without a Cause, King of Kings, etc.)  After he sustains a rodeo injury, star rider Jeff McCloud (Mitchum), returns to his hometown after many years of absence. He signs on as a ranch hand, where he is befriended by fellow ranch hand Wes Merritt (Arthur Kennedy, a strong supporting man, esp. of the Western genre) and his wife Louise (Susan Hayward in a strong/engaging performance).

The Lusty Men_meeting

Louise: Wes tells me you once made three thousand dollars in one day, rodeoin’.

Jeff: That’s right.

Louise: And threw it all away.

Jeff: Oh, I didn’t throw it away. It just sorta’… floated.

The Merritts seem like a solid, happy couple, though they also have ambitions for their own little farm.  Wes thinks that rodeo winnings (fast money) could help finance it.  Wes convinces Jeff (who is a BIT reluctant) to coach him, but Louise has strong doubts.  She thinks that the couple should just keep saving slowly.  But, despite his easygoing/humble demeanor, Wes has a lust for adventure!

The Lusty Men_truceThere never was a bronc that couldn’t be rode, there never a cowboy that couldn’t be throwed. Guys like me last forever.  -Jeff says to Louise

It turns out that Wes is QUITE good in the events he signs up for in his first rodeo, impressing his new peers on the circuit.  Of course, the money is GREAT, so he decides to go on the road (BEFORE checking w/ Louise).  She is surprised by this hasty decision, BUT goes on the road w/ her husband and Jeff.  How will Wes and Louise deal w/ their new success/lifestyle?  What will become of Jeff… and his burgeoning feelings for Louise?  Watch this film to find out!    

Arabian Sights Film Festival (OCT 16-25)

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Hey all,

It’s Fall, which means cooler weather and better movies than the past Summer (which is generally geared toward 12 y.o. boys).  It’s also time for film festivals (here in the DC area)!  Last December, I reviewed Rock the Casbah, which was one of the films in the Arabian Sights Film Festival.  Omar Sharif has a cameo in the film.

Official web site of the festival: http://www.filmfestdc.org/arabiansights/index.cfm

*NOTE: All films will be shown at AMC Mazza Gallerie (5300 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20015); metro riders need to get off at the Friendship Heights station and walk out using the Western Ave exit.

Below are trailers/some info re: the films that I’m MOST interested in:

The Intruder (SUN, 10/18, 5PM)

A Dutch cop of Moroccan descent goes deep undercover to infiltrate a drug-trafficking Moroccan family. The deeper he embeds himself in the family’s inner circles, the more he realizes a sense of belonging and a feeling of brotherhood that has until now eluded him. It is then he begins to question his allegiance to the police force he pledged to serve. 

Eyes of a Thief (FRI, 10/23, 6:30PM)

After ten years in prison, Tarek is desperate to find his daughter who was an infant when he was imprisoned. A lawless lifestyle seems to have seeped into ten-year old Malak, whom Tarek suspects is his estranged daughter. But her adoptive mother is being forced into an arranged marriage with the town’s main businessman with whom Tarek seems to have unfinished business.

Spread the word to those who enjoy intelligent, international cinema!

Thanks for reading,

EMMA

What Should I Watch NOW?

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  • The Affair (Showtime) – My 2nd blog post on S1 Eps 6-10 will be up soon.  S2 premieres SUN, OCT 4th- YAY!
  • Alpha House (Amazon Prime) – 2 seasons are now up; you can’t go wrong w/ John Goodman; fans of Homicide (like me), will get a treat in seeing Clark Johnson.
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The leads of Alpha House: Who knew REPUBLICANS could be so much FUN!?”
  • Aziz Ansari Live at Madison Square Garden (Netflix) – Who DOESN’T love this guy!?
  • Being Mary Jane (BET/Netflix) – 2 seasons are now up on Netlix; this is a MUST-SEE drama starring the (always FAB) Gabrielle Union; better and even more realistic than Girls & SATC) read my review of S1 here.
  • Black Mirror (Netflix) – Read my review here.
  • Broadchurch (BBC/PBS/Netflix) – Read my review of S1 here.
  • Catastrophe (Amazon Prime) – This show is INSANE… and insanely good; see it RIGHT NOW!!!  Carrie Fisher has a recurring role, too!
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Catastrophe is written by Sharon Horgan (Irish) & Rob Delaney (former theater actor/comic).
  • Daredevil (Netflix) – It’s more like a cop show, NOT a typical superhero one.  This is a MUST-SEE for L&O: CI/Vincent D’Onofrio fans!
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In Daredevil, Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio) is the supervillain who’s awkward w/ women.
  • Empire (FOX/Hulu) – Read my review here.
  • The Fall (Netflix) – Read my review here.
  • Fruitvale Station (Netflix) – A slice-of-life film about Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan), a young dad who was killed by a transit cop in San Fran; his mom is played by Octavia Spencer.
  • Grace and Frankie (Netflix) – Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen & Sam Waterston (WOW, what a cast!) star in this SMART/FUNNY life-after-divorce comedy.
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Grace (Jane Fonda) tries online dating… & meets an overeager beau in Grace and Frankie.
  • Happy Valley (BBC/Netflix) – Read my review here.
  • House of Cards (Netflix) – 3 seasons are now out; def check out S1 (if you don’t have a LOTTA time)!
  • Orange is the New Black  (Netflix) – MUST-SEE for anyone who wants to see diversity/women/& just LOL.
  • The Politician’s Husband (BBC/Netlfix) – A UK miniseries that shows us a V different side of David Tennant, who gets caught up in his ambitions, along w/ his wife, played by Emily Watson.
  • The Slap (Netflix) – I watched the original Aussie version of this miniseries; it’s got a large/diverse cast incl. two FAB ladies: Sophie Okonedo (Brit; Hotel Rwanda) & Melissa George (Aussie; In Treatment: S1).  Each ep is told from a different perspective.
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Essie Davis, Melissa George, & Sophie Okonedo play lifelong pals in The Slap.