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Re: Sight and Sound (2002) Greatest Films Club
#288 - Celine and Julie Go Boating
In some ways a tremendous rip-off of Daisies, although there are enough differences to make it fresh. In Chytilova's film, the girls are playful forces of destruction; in Rivette's they are playful forces of creativity. This film is really about the power and joy of imagination, and it's executed in a way that incorporates surreal elements without ever getting too confusing. It does get rather tedious at times, though, and most of the themes/scenes/points are lingered on far longer than necessary. The girls (again, like those in Daisies) are alternately charming and annoying. The identity switching is possibly influenced by Persona, and in turn is most likely an influence on Altman's 3 Women. I certainly wouldn't mind seeing this again, but I'd rather watch Daisies, which is more concise and exciting, and does more with camera technique. Rating: 8
#289 - The African Queen
An entertaining adventure tale, good but not great. The pacing and plotting are spot on, but Huston's direction (as is often the case) lacks distinction. Nothing makes this movie shine, and even Cardiff's Technicolor photography is a bit lifeless (although I'm sure it'd look a lot snappier with a proper DVD release). Bogart and Hepburn give charismatic performances, but one wishes there was more spark between them. The romance definitely feels forced, and I didn't buy it until the very end. I entertained the possibility that Bogart's character was faking it for a while, but that theory didn't hold up. I thought it would have been more interesting that way. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable tale. Rating: 7
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