2010 Movie Madness

I just got my tax return and the Hollywood video down the street has dropped their prices to $6 a movie and will probably drop them again before they shut down for good. Here are just a few of the goodies I picked up. I have to say 8 1/2 was my favorite of the group, the dream sequences were perfect in blending fantasy and reality. Its one of those perfect lazy day movies where you want something good but not something intense. While watching 8 1/2 I kept getting this Wes Anderson vibe similar to The Life Aquatic very surreal with a touch of dark humor. After that I got into The Chunking Express. I bought this movie not knowing it was by Wong Kar Wai director of 2046 and In the Mood for Love. Its really more of the same lush colors, steamy romances and possibly the best use of California Dreaming in a film ever.
Next up, The seventh seal! . . .For a later day.

I also picked up some religious children's shows on VHS but that too is for another day.

Dodes'Ka-Den

I just finished my 10th Kurosawa film and its true, there is no such thing as a bad Kursosawa movie. His ability to tell a story and to make the audience empathize with his characters has yet to be matched by another director. Does'Ka-Den is in my opinion his best non samurai film and his most human. Shot in 28 days Dodes'Ka-Den is what you would call a directors film, a character driven story blended with psychedelic imagery. I would not recommend this as an introduction to Kurosawa but as another chapter in the history of cinemas greatest film maker.
9/10

Cherry Blossoms

Ask and you shall receive. I really needed a good movie and what I got was a masterpiece. I cried twice. Cherry Blossoms feels like a hybrid of Tokyo Story and Lost In Translation but still manages to find its own identity. The cinematography is simply stunning as both German and Japanese locations are perfectly captured in a dream like state. Actor Elmar Wepper is remarkable, he won 4 awards for his role and its one of the most moving performances I have ever seen in film. This is drama at its best.

10/10

The Housemaid

The Housemaid is the edgiest movie from the 60's I have ever seen. Sure the acting is a bit over the top at times but this isn't your everyday melodrama. The intense subject matter and creative camera work pull you into this dark and dangerous world of infidelity and I guarantee the end will mess with your head big time. The last time an ending had me this bewildered was Down With Love. Luckily this film was saved from obscurity and restored for our viewing pleasure so expect a few grainy scenes with engrish subtitles. This a great late night movie with new found cult status written all over it. Enjoy.
7.7649/10

I found this little gem for free on http://www.theauteurs.com/. Almost everything I post on this blog can be found there so now you have no excuse for not watching great movies.

Das Haus der schlafenden Schönen

The house of sleeping beauties is a deeply sad and erotic tale of a man coming to terms with his own death. It has been 15 years since Edmond has lost his wife and daughter in a tragic car accident during this time his loneliness and regret has eaten away at him leaving only a shell of his former existence. Troubled by Edmond's depression his friend recommends he visit a place where old men like himself can lay next to beautiful young women who will never wake no matter what is done to them.
Needless to say there is a fair amount of nudity in this film but it never came across as vulgar, just sad. Sleeping beauties leaves you with more questions than answers and that's the best thing about it. I felt that the girls represented the youth and life that Edmond could never go back to. He could touch that life, speak to it even break it if he wanted to but he could never be apart of it again, but hey that's just my take on it. The film moves at a crawl but only clocks in at 99 minutes keeping it short and powerful never losing itself in its own introverted wonderland. If you can look past the sexual overtones you will find a stark and poetic look at loneliness and mortality that's sure to keep you thinking long after you watch it.
9/10 not for everyone.

Wages of fear

Its nice to come across a movie that's over 50 years old and still holds up. That's due almost entirely to the stellar cast who's genuine bravado kept me tied to the characters until their bitter ends. The pace is a bit slow but extremely tense as each scene brings with it fear of death and injury. I'm a sucker for these little multilingual character driven gems. Its a great lazy day movie that's perfect to kill in one or two sittings.

7.9938/10

In between days

Similar to the works of Kim ki-duk, So Young Kim's In Between Days is another classic example of quiet Korean cinema. With no soundtrack and limited dialogue this movie is an amazing work of loneliness and isolation. The film follows the awkward but very lovable Aimie, a Korean immigrant who speaks very little English and has only one friend, a boy who she is completely infatuated with. The chemistry between the two is wonderful, there were times I actually forgot they were actors not high school kids. That being said the main theme of the movie is loneliness so don't expect any gags or action. The film's stark realism leaves it feeling a bit dry towards the end but I felt that it served the purpose of the film well. I really felt a connection with Aimie and her troubles and towards the end I just wanted to be her friend. I know that sounds kind of silly but any movie that makes me feel this level of empathy towards its characters deserves a solid recommendation.