"The Man with the Golden Arm"
"The Man with the Golden Arm," directed by Otto Preminger, is my video antidote to all the saccharin-sweet fare on television during the holiday season. Who needs a darling Natalie Wood when you can have a strung-out Frank Sinatra? In this 1955 film noir, based on the book by Nelson Algren, Sinatra stars as Frankie Machine: card dealer, ex-con, heroin addict, struggling to stay clean so he can audition as a drummer for a jazz band. With titles by Saul Bass, a soundtrack by Elmer Bernstein, great minimalist sets and adequate performances throughout, the whole of the film is never greater than the sum of its parts, but still worth the few bucks to rent. Ol' Blue Eye’s jittery, angsty performance is overly dramatic, almost a caricature, but still riveting. (Definitely check him out in "The Manchurian Candidate.") Eleanor Parker as Frankie’s manipulative wife, Zosch, and Kim Novak as his girlfriend, Molly, are only fair, and the ending is contrived. Recent films such as "Requiem for a Dream" and "Trainspotting" provide more compelling examinations of heroin use, but "Golden Arm" merits a watch if for no other reason than to see how Preminger tackled drug abuse in the repressive 1950s. Bonus: a possible precursor to Celebrity Death Match? Chairman of the Board Sinatra takes on Austrian dictator Preminger.
Wednesday, December 11, 2002
"El Crimen del Padre Amaro"- this ain't no Thorn Birds hon
Director Carlos Carrera's film takes full aim at the hypocrisy and corruption of the Catholic Church in Mexico and boy howdy is it having an effect. Based on a novel by 19th century Portuguese novelist Eça de Queirós, the film revolves around Father Amaro, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, and the setting is Mexico. Bernal's newly ordained priest comes to the town of Los Reyes to work with Father Benito. Soon after arriving Father Amaro begins an affair with a 16-year-old girl and we learn that Father Benito has been receiving funding from a drug lord for a health clinic. The film could have just been a two hour soap opera but Carrera has made it a wake up call. Apparently attempts have been made to keep it out of theaters in Mexico. Not surprising since the film basically says the Church cares more about money than people. But nothing is that simple in this film.
For cinematic shock value the scene in "Pink Flamingos" where Divine eats shit is tough to surpass but in one scene in this film a character takes the Holy Eucharist from her mouth and feeds it to a cat. Offensive, blasphemous.... funny? Fortunately Catholics aren't prone to issuing a fatwa against Carrara because we wouldn't want him to go into hiding. I think the thing that resonates most about this film is that none of the characters are one dimensional- they are all so beautifully flawed, so... human. The film forces you to question what is moral. Father Natalio, played by Damián Alcázar, who is suspected of assisting guerilla troops against the wishes of the Bishop, is actually the one priest in the film who seems concerned for his flock. So on one hand he is rejecting the mandates from the Church and yet he is the character with the most integrity. I suggest those who go see this film check their beliefs at the theater door and approach this film from a secular point of view.
Director Carlos Carrera's film takes full aim at the hypocrisy and corruption of the Catholic Church in Mexico and boy howdy is it having an effect. Based on a novel by 19th century Portuguese novelist Eça de Queirós, the film revolves around Father Amaro, played by Gael Garcia Bernal, and the setting is Mexico. Bernal's newly ordained priest comes to the town of Los Reyes to work with Father Benito. Soon after arriving Father Amaro begins an affair with a 16-year-old girl and we learn that Father Benito has been receiving funding from a drug lord for a health clinic. The film could have just been a two hour soap opera but Carrera has made it a wake up call. Apparently attempts have been made to keep it out of theaters in Mexico. Not surprising since the film basically says the Church cares more about money than people. But nothing is that simple in this film.
For cinematic shock value the scene in "Pink Flamingos" where Divine eats shit is tough to surpass but in one scene in this film a character takes the Holy Eucharist from her mouth and feeds it to a cat. Offensive, blasphemous.... funny? Fortunately Catholics aren't prone to issuing a fatwa against Carrara because we wouldn't want him to go into hiding. I think the thing that resonates most about this film is that none of the characters are one dimensional- they are all so beautifully flawed, so... human. The film forces you to question what is moral. Father Natalio, played by Damián Alcázar, who is suspected of assisting guerilla troops against the wishes of the Bishop, is actually the one priest in the film who seems concerned for his flock. So on one hand he is rejecting the mandates from the Church and yet he is the character with the most integrity. I suggest those who go see this film check their beliefs at the theater door and approach this film from a secular point of view.
Monday, November 25, 2002
Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Saw "The Ring" Sunday night- am debating if I want to exert any enegy reviewing it. I think it is pointless to do so until I see the Japanese version which until a few days ago I didn't even know existed- shame on me!!
Anyways I decided I might review a number of foreign films and their American remakes such as "Plein Soleil" (Purple Noon) starring my favorite French matinee idol Alain Delon vs. "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and the 2002 Christopher Nolan "Insomnia" vs. the 1997 Erik Skjoldbjaerg version starring Stellan Skarsgard. When I think of some others I'll do those as well. I am thinking "Vanilla Sky" vs. Alejandro Amenábar's "Abre los ojos."
Anyways I decided I might review a number of foreign films and their American remakes such as "Plein Soleil" (Purple Noon) starring my favorite French matinee idol Alain Delon vs. "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and the 2002 Christopher Nolan "Insomnia" vs. the 1997 Erik Skjoldbjaerg version starring Stellan Skarsgard. When I think of some others I'll do those as well. I am thinking "Vanilla Sky" vs. Alejandro Amenábar's "Abre los ojos."
Friday, October 11, 2002
I find this amusing...
From the Mobtown Shank #155, Dug Sohn responds to my review:
I'm not even sure what all that review meant, but I'll tell you this, One Hour Photo was about One Hour and Thirty Five Minutes too long. Are you kidding me? That movie sucked. One-dimensional characters/performances, and a plot line that could be conceived by a dorky teenager reading Vogue - creepy guy obsesses with hot chick whose new fancy hair style every five minutes confuses him and sends him over the edge. OOOH I"M SO ASCARED NOW TO GO TO WALLMART AND HAVE THE LOSER DEVELOPING PICTURES OF MY DOG LICKING MY DICK OBSESS OVER ME AND MAKE MY DOG SCREW A CAT. Now that's a film.
From the Mobtown Shank #155, Dug Sohn responds to my review:
I'm not even sure what all that review meant, but I'll tell you this, One Hour Photo was about One Hour and Thirty Five Minutes too long. Are you kidding me? That movie sucked. One-dimensional characters/performances, and a plot line that could be conceived by a dorky teenager reading Vogue - creepy guy obsesses with hot chick whose new fancy hair style every five minutes confuses him and sends him over the edge. OOOH I"M SO ASCARED NOW TO GO TO WALLMART AND HAVE THE LOSER DEVELOPING PICTURES OF MY DOG LICKING MY DICK OBSESS OVER ME AND MAKE MY DOG SCREW A CAT. Now that's a film.
Why blog? Why not. Thought I'd give myself a forum for things I wanna share, lambaste, toast, etc. Saw "One Hour Photo" last night. Good film. Not great but good.
A film which simultaneously explores alienation and obsession as well as is a nuanced and powerful indictment of American values such as they exist today. Writer/Director Romanek launches a salvo albeit a subtle, relentless one against the reigning corrupt consumerist values that dominate American culture. Less overt in its skewering than "American Beauty," it is a darker and more pernicious view. The seamless combination of dialogue, color palette, music and editing created an ominous feeling throughout the film keeping my stomach churning.
The interesting thing that Mark Romanek did with this film - which is something that I always enjoy- is to make the viewer sympathize with an unsympathetic character, such as the one played by Robin Williams. I felt sympathy for this person who on the surface is repulsive in that he is a dark room voyeur- he is the person that I imagine is hoarding the cache of porn photos (as an ex-roomie of mine once did who worked at a One Hour Photo). Sadly this character is lonely and alienated with a pathological need to connect with a suburban family he idealizes. The family appears to be perfect but in actuality under the surface are materialistic and completely emotionally empty. The film skewers consumerist American values and it is not a coincidence the setting of this is a shopping mall - the great American shrine to consumerism. Less satirical then Solondz, although both explore themes of desire and alienation, Romanek's vision of family life is anything but a Kodak moment.
A film which simultaneously explores alienation and obsession as well as is a nuanced and powerful indictment of American values such as they exist today. Writer/Director Romanek launches a salvo albeit a subtle, relentless one against the reigning corrupt consumerist values that dominate American culture. Less overt in its skewering than "American Beauty," it is a darker and more pernicious view. The seamless combination of dialogue, color palette, music and editing created an ominous feeling throughout the film keeping my stomach churning.
The interesting thing that Mark Romanek did with this film - which is something that I always enjoy- is to make the viewer sympathize with an unsympathetic character, such as the one played by Robin Williams. I felt sympathy for this person who on the surface is repulsive in that he is a dark room voyeur- he is the person that I imagine is hoarding the cache of porn photos (as an ex-roomie of mine once did who worked at a One Hour Photo). Sadly this character is lonely and alienated with a pathological need to connect with a suburban family he idealizes. The family appears to be perfect but in actuality under the surface are materialistic and completely emotionally empty. The film skewers consumerist American values and it is not a coincidence the setting of this is a shopping mall - the great American shrine to consumerism. Less satirical then Solondz, although both explore themes of desire and alienation, Romanek's vision of family life is anything but a Kodak moment.
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