Sight and Sound (2002) Greatest Films Club - Page 121

Martin Teller · 03-31-2008, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas J.

THE CIRCUS is his funniest movie, so you should like that one. In other words, there's no pretension to make a "great film" with THE CIRCUS as there is with CITY LIGHTS and MODERN TIMES, if that's what bothers you. THE CIRCUS was made during a very trying time in his personal life, ironically.

The Circus ended up being my favorite Chaplin, actually!

#285 - Meet Me in St. Louis

Really wonderful. The plot is pure fluff... based on the mildest of dramatic conflicts, if you could even call them conflicts at all. But it is a warm and inviting story. And anyway, you don't watch a musical for the plot, you watch it for the musical sequences. And oh, how joyous and transcendent they are. "The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" are glorious, soaring highlights, but there really isn't a stinker in the bunch (I guess I didn't care much for the title song). My only big complaint is that it needed MORE songs! There's a long stretch without any, especially while we sludge through the Halloween business which is the most uninteresting part of the film (gah, who cares about Tootie?). So I would have appreciated a couple more tunes, but I'm still going to add this to my collection at some point (I'll probably wait for the inevitable Blu-Ray, where the Technicolor should really shine). Rating: 9

**HTF Ads**

Martin Teller · 04-03-2008, 10:26 PM

I'm going to be tackling the canon pretty hard for a while, so I expect to fill in a lot of the gaps in my list.

#286 - Letter from an Unknown Woman

Expertly filmed with wonderful camera moves, evocative lighting, and beautiful sets. It was well-acted, and there were some very memorable moments. It comments elegantly on the harsh realities of romance. The score was very nice, too. That is to say: I liked it, quite a bit. On the whole, however, it just didn't strike me as a masterpiece and I'm left wondering why it has such a mighty reputation. Sure, it was tragic and lovely, but it certainly didn't dig deep into my soul or anything. I was more impressed by the other Ophuls film I've seen, Leibelei. What am I missing that elevates this one above the level of "very good"? Rating: 8

Adam_S · 04-04-2008, 01:22 AM

how did you see leibelei and how can I see it? it's one of the legendary thirties films I've not gotten to.

Martin Teller · 04-04-2008, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adam_S

how did you see leibelei and how can I see it? it's one of the legendary thirties films I've not gotten to.

The public library had it on VHS.

Martin Teller · 04-04-2008, 04:24 PM

#287 - The Earrings of Madame de...

Ophuls again. I liked this one a little bit more. Of course, the camerawork is incredible... full of long, graceful, carefully choreographed tracking shots. The shot of the torn letters turning into snow was genius. And the use of the earrings as a symbol for the various relationships of love and deception among the characters was novel. It's an excellent film, but I'm afraid that, again, it did not connect with me on a gut level. I cannot point to a particular flaw or provide an example of what I would have preferred to see. I simply wasn't swept off my feet by it. My reaction to Ophuls has been similar to my feelings about Ozu -- he made very good films, quite watchable and impressive in their own way. Just not MY KIND of films, whatever that might be. Rating: 8

Adam_S · 04-04-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Just not MY KIND of films,

I agree, they are very well made, I just didn't like them that well. Still I'll have to poke around looking for Liebelie cause I just assumed it was never available.

Martin Teller · 04-06-2008, 07:49 PM

#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

Adam_S · 04-06-2008, 11:58 PM

Cries and Whispers - 7 of 10
35mm 040608, 210th film

Certainly not the worst film ever, but I don't fully embrace it just yet either. This film requires a more nuanced and considered view than an immediate reaction provides. Suffice to say that I found the photography incredible, the imagry utterly stunning and the actions of the two vile ones to be as horrifying as anything Scarlett OHara managed to accomplish when she worked her evils. I'm not sure if I can interpret this film outside of the feelings of class warfare it sparks in me, certainly I now see the spiritual elements, but they had less of an impact on my appreciation than the injustice treated upon Anna (and Agnes).

Martin Teller · 04-09-2008, 10:39 AM

#290 - The Wind

In which the horrors of living in a godforsaken backwater place with dumbass hicks is weighed against the horrors of a creepy married guy trying to rape you. This is not lighthearted fare, and the climax is as intense as any modern movie I've seen. The craftsmanship on display is impressive, not just for 1928 but for any era. Most of the really good stuff comes in the third act, but I wouldn't say that the buildup is boring or anything. Rating: 9

Michael Elliott · 04-09-2008, 02:31 PM

I mentioned it in my review of THE WIND last year but this was released nearly an exact year after THE JAZZ SINGER and a lot of people used this film as to why films didn't need sound. I for one agree. It's certainly one of the greatest films I've ever seen and I think it speaks very loudly that silents are a lot more powerful than sound. There's no way in hell you could make this film with sound and have it have the same impact.

rich_d · 04-09-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Elliott

I mentioned it in my review of THE WIND last year but this was released nearly an exact year after THE JAZZ SINGER and a lot of people used this film as to why films didn't need sound. I for one agree. It's certainly one of the greatest films I've ever seen and I think it speaks very loudly that silents are a lot more powerful than sound. There's no way in hell you could make this film with sound and have it have the same impact.

Norma Desmond is ALIVE!

Michael Elliott · 04-09-2008, 08:13 PM

I might end up embarrassed but who is that?