The summer continues to fly by with mixed results. The sleepers have been the keepers. For those of you new to the ‘Narcissism’ posts, it involves a few of the writers, (who I spend time pummeling with emails) dropping micro-reviews into our special section, which can be accessed by the equivalent icon on the side bar. Here is a sampler from the past two weeks:
The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (2009) 1/5
A lot has changed in the 25 years since the original subway hijack-slash-heist film blended a compelling and mysterious crime with some great satire (setting the mold to later be fabulously appropriated in Die Hard). As a bonus, it was character driven and very much in the flavour ‘on-location’ authenticity. The new Pelham is all bombastic editing that drowns out the minimal attempt at character work. Really, if you want the spiritual remake of The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3, just rent Spike Lee’s Inside Man, it has a kick-ass opening song (like the ‘74 Pelham), a great heist idea, a compelling frosty-cool villain, plenty of corrupt yet interesting supporting characters and heck, the hero is even Denzel Washington who is calm under pressure and basically to do good work with the central aim of getting home for dinner with his wife. Either way, once you get past the needless stylistic masturbation of Tony Scott’s take on the heist film (his style was much better suited for Enemy of the State, Domino and even Deja Vu), you realize that a wildly unhinged and cackling John Travolta was old and busted with Battlefield Earth, and a handlebar mustache is not enough to call his idiot-cartoon character badass. Pelham ‘09 is bad in every way except badass. There is only Ass. -KURT
Synecdoche, New York (2008) 5/5
Holy shit. -JONATHAN
Departures (2008) 3.5/5
Winners of the foreign language Oscar award are almost always, without exception, quite phenomenal films. With Departures, “phenomenal” is not exactly the word I would use. But hey, the academy screwed up everything else this year; might as well botch the foreign stuff too. That isn’t to say Departures isn’t good, it’s just not great. It’s a touching look at death and how in fact it can be quite beautiful if the ceremonial “departure” (funeral) can be carried out by someone with a loving and delicate touch. It’s a light hearted look at the mystery of death through the eyes of the elderly and through the eyes of a young couple. The humor is mostly for the older crowd and it isn’t overly heart warming or inspirational. But with all the death that takes place in the film, there was certainly no shortage of tears and sniffles in the theater, but overall, this is a nicely shot film (though nothing groundbreaking or outstandingly beautiful) that is simply… nice. The music, the characters, the humor and the loving touch – there’s simply no better word. The movie is nice. -ANDREW
Man of the Century (1999) 3.5/5
Johnny Twennies, a newspaper columnist in present-day New York, is a jauntily cheerful, very friendly, totally honest and upstanding young man who happens to be completely oblivious to any technological or social changes in the past 70 years. He routinely uses telegrams, a manual typewriter, and a manual toaster, and to the pleasure and despair of his girlfriend conducts his personal life in correspondingly anachronistic style. A neat concept that could easily fall flat after 20 minutes, but keeps things rolling and feeling fresh. A well-made, low-budget black and white movie, decently acted and directed and worth the watch. -JONATHAN
Punishment Park (1971) 4/5
One of the earliest made fake documentaries that I know of and probably one of the most believable. Not knowing any better one might think this is actual footage of true government oppression during the Nixon era. When defendants (un)charged with various forms of dissident face an official tribunal with in adequate representation, they are all found guilty of a form of treason and sentenced to either years in prison or 4 days at Punishment Park: a desert landscape which the prisoners must cross while being hunted down by law enforcement. Being an anti-war, anti-fascism film, the message is clear: basically a leftist paranoid vision of the furute. But it’s not a black and white clear either. While it certainly leans heavy one direction, there’re plenty of gray area covered and more intimate issues addressed as well – from various viewpoints. The style and tone of the film is very convincing and these filmmakers have put together a very frustrating and in-your-face feature documentary. -ANDREW
Andrew I loved Punishment Park, and if you a after another and earlier of example of a great fake documentary then you need look no further than The War Game(1967) also directed by Peter Watkins.
This film depicts a Russian nuclear attack on Britain and was banned by the BBC because of its realistic style and its criticism of the government. It wasn’t shown on TV for the first time in the UK until 1985.
Seriously if you are able to netflix this in the states then do so.
Thanks for the heads up on Pelham, I kind of saw what was coming from the trailer, I totally agree Inside man is a good spiritual remake as far as character and tone. I think if John Revolting wasn’t attached I’d have been a little more interested. I know Washington can do this kind of thing in his sleep I wish he would try his hand at something a little more demanding.
Over the years I have warmed to Scott’s style, mainly the mid 90′s period (Crimson Tide and True Romance) but it seem like he’s doing a parody of himself these days.
I just hope this and his The Warriors remake disappears with lukewarm or bad reviews and that the branding ploy works in reverse and these two not flawless originals get some love.
I dunno, I’m kinda, sorta looking forward to a remake of The Warriors, the first one was cartoon-y, and probably more suited to the all surface, no depth sylings of your typical hollywood re-envisioning. If it is a mad-max style chase on contempo L.A. Freeways (rather than a neighborhood/subway chase in the original in NYC), even better. I’d heard the remake was being set in LA.
Tony Scott would be 100x more suited to something like The Warriors remake than the quite static (essentially two location talk into microphones PELHAM). I’d have loved to see Michael Mann’s HD-Digital version of Pelham 1-2-3. Mann has always had a respect of the ‘competent working man’ and wouldn’t have turn on the loony-bin silliness that Scott/Travolta achieves.
I have no doubt Scott’s visual style would lend it’s self to a warriors remake especially in LA, but to be honest when I first heard he was doing Pelham I thought it would be a nice fit if we were talking Crimson Tide Scott, which was (essentially two location talk into microphones)as you said.
Still trying to talk myself into that second time view for Domino, I really like Scott but just think when doesn’t have a good script, he overcompensates with the visual flourishes. This can be enjoyable but also headache inducing at times.
Michael Mann for Pelham, yes sir! tight script, shoot it like Collateral that would have been a meaty dish for sure.
I like Domino in the same way I liked Southland tales (well, I guess they both have the same screen-writer. It’s a riff on the ADD/realityTV/gruge-weath/celebrity/talk-show culture in the united states. And it reflects the channel-hopping nature of the narrative with the style of the narrative. I think Domino (and Southland Tales) are both worth second looks for that reason.
They may go own to minor cult followings given enough time. There are quite a few Domino lovers out there, even like myself I don’t consider myself much of a Tony Scott fan. (Albeit, True Romance kicks all sorts of ass…great film)
Hats off to Jed(i) at the Edina Landmark for hooking me up with a pass for Departures. Great theater, great employees* and great movies. Thanks.
Yeah, I like Domino too. I don’t see much wrong with that script at all. I mean it’s a little bit rag-tag and all over the place, but isn’t that kind of the point of the movie; at least part of it? It’s fun, energetic and has some great performances. Loved the black lady on that talk show… “Chi-negro.” And hey, it was great to see Knightley doing something pretty atypical and delivering fairly well.
I use the same argument for Southland tales. These two films are kinda of part and parcel thematically. Except one is a biopic and the other is speculative fiction.
I’m a big fan of Punishment Park. The issues it raises are timeless. I’m in agreement with Lee, the War Game is also a worthwhile watch. And it is available thru Netflix, as that’s how I saw it (or rather the Cdn equiv. Zip.ca).
With you on southland Tales, but all I remember about Domino was not buying Ikea Knightley and it being very messy intentionally or not. One thing that I did really like was the odd Tom Waits Sequence which might be my in.
I smell a Kermode fan.
Guilty as charged Andrew
out of curiosity toward the Razzie record holder, i watched I KNOW WHO KILLED ME.
I think Kurt should watch this movie, seriously. Based on his defence of Southland Tales, I think theres a small percentage chance he’d stick up for this film to some degree.
I expected just a lame thriller and that the Razzies were because of all the Lohan topical bashing that year. The former is not true and the latter, completely.
IKWKM is distasteful, torture pornish in some parts and a wannabe Richard Kelly/Lynch film in others, with earnest attempts at stylishness and a complex plot with a twist. I can actually say the film is completely watchable in a ‘need to speculate and find out what happens’ sort of way.
Don’t get me wrong, the movie is BAD, Lohan is BAD, the soundtrack choices are bizarre and inappropriate, and after the ending, a couple things are even stupider than they were to begin with (ew, she totally nailed that guy, not cool Dakota), but it put out way more of an effort than I expected. The only thing close to pandering is the strip club sequences, which exist solely to show Lohan sort-of-stripping.
So its a failure. its not a laugh riot of a failure, but its a very interesting failure instead.
1/5
BONUS QUESTION:
Theres a scene in the movie where Lohan’s character (who we assume has amnesia) is having sex with her boyfriend. It made me question: is having sex with an amnesiac or schizophrenic cheating, or rape?
In our household, we loathe KISS with a passion. Whenever we hear a terrible band, someone says “Still better than KISS”.
During IKWKM, one of us muttered “Still better than Twilight”. I think that’s going to stick, and it also happens to be absolutely true.
I KNOW WHO KILLED ME is actually sitting on my DVD shelf. It came highly recommended as a campy over the top surreal fest. I see your milage varied a bit, Goon. I’ll get to it some day.
insightful, enlightening, poignant, truthful, and courageous! For all the women without a voice…
Before I saw the movie, I prepared myself for the violence. I knew that it would have a sad ending. This movie is touching. It moves you and it gently brings you to a reality that is rarely seen in our faded eyes. This is one of the movies that are based on true reality, the reality that women still face today which is beyond my imagination.
At the same time, I am a woman living in the United States and sometimes I even feel like my voice is not being heard. I value and admire the strength of the quiet, strong, hardworking woman who never complains about her life. She lives with dignity.
The Stoning of Soraya M.
insightful, enlightening, poignant, truthful, and courageous! For all the women without a voice…
Before I saw the movie, I prepared myself for the violence. I knew that it would have a sad ending. This movie is touching. It moves you and it gently brings you to a reality that is rarely seen in our faded eyes. This is one of the movies that are based on true reality, the reality that women still face today which is beyond my imagination.
At the same time, I am a woman living in the United States and sometimes I even feel like my voice is not being heard. I value and admire the strength of the quiet, strong, hardworking woman who never complains about her life. She lives with dignity.