Monday, July 20, 2009
Larry Flynt; The Right to be left alone
This movie is impressive. Love or loath him you can’t help but admire his commitment to freedom of speech.. This allows him to put his point of view. Of course he has made a lot of money out of his pornography and the backdrop is pretty squalid. But he has also put himself on the line too to fight in what he believes. It was sad to see his wife wither away with her drug habit but I really enjoyed this movie
Empties
This Czech movie is a light hearted movie. A bit of a surprise as many of the old eastern block countries do “woe is me” so it was refreshing to see this new genre emerging. After a man looses his job he goes off and is happy to do anything. He finds a niche for himself and enjoys it.
Lots of twists and turns but overall a straight to telly type movie J
Lots of twists and turns but overall a straight to telly type movie J
Derek
This documentary on the life and times of Derek Jarman is narrated by Tilda Swinton who gives this film substance. Her voice over and acute observations give this film another depth. You get a sense of her admiration and her missing him. As she says time means that you will be forgotten but some quicker than others.
There was some great footage from a variety of periods in Derek’s life. From the swinging art scene, to stage design, film producer and video clip director…he was part of the “in” crowd – even if that generally means you are anti most things.
It explained his contribution to activism. It inspires you to go and have another look at Sebastian and Carravaggio even if they really are hedonistic romps. The artists were pretty much allowed to do whatever they liked. It had an aspect of Andy Warhol’s factory.
After reading several of Jarman’s books this film was a wonderful way to see him in his element. For all his flippant ways he did have a pedagogy behind him. He had such a serious element to himself. He was a thinker.
There was some great footage from a variety of periods in Derek’s life. From the swinging art scene, to stage design, film producer and video clip director…he was part of the “in” crowd – even if that generally means you are anti most things.
It explained his contribution to activism. It inspires you to go and have another look at Sebastian and Carravaggio even if they really are hedonistic romps. The artists were pretty much allowed to do whatever they liked. It had an aspect of Andy Warhol’s factory.
After reading several of Jarman’s books this film was a wonderful way to see him in his element. For all his flippant ways he did have a pedagogy behind him. He had such a serious element to himself. He was a thinker.
Caramel
This Lebanese movie is a fairly light hearted account of the trials and tribulations of a hair dressing salon. It gives you some insight into the life of someone in Lebanon. The police, the religion, the personalities. But somehow it misses the mark. No belly laughing but amusing nonetheless.
It attempts to contemplate some of the big questions but really doesn’t come down on any side.
It attempts to contemplate some of the big questions but really doesn’t come down on any side.
Brando
This movie had elements of so many actors in a love feast. They adored him. They felt he was the introduction of a new approach. What I found amusing is that he really didn’t have the heart for it. It was more just a means to an end for him. It implied that he became such a good actor in an attempt to impress his alcoholic mother. He would perform for her and became an excellent mimic.
I actually find he overacts and so I could say he wasn’t one of my favorite actors. He was an incredibly handsome youth but old age was not kind to him. By the time they rolled him out for Acpolspe Now he was beyond sad and his life was a mess.
It was interesting to see how many people were keen to speak up about their time with him – Martin Scorcese, Robert Dival, Jane Fonda, Al Pacino, James Caan, Angie Dickinson all tell you how brilliant he was.
A must even if just for a potted version of his life.
I actually find he overacts and so I could say he wasn’t one of my favorite actors. He was an incredibly handsome youth but old age was not kind to him. By the time they rolled him out for Acpolspe Now he was beyond sad and his life was a mess.
It was interesting to see how many people were keen to speak up about their time with him – Martin Scorcese, Robert Dival, Jane Fonda, Al Pacino, James Caan, Angie Dickinson all tell you how brilliant he was.
A must even if just for a potted version of his life.
Bastardy
This confronting movie is a bit of an epic. Filmed over many years it follows the life of Jack Charles. He was involved in founding an indigenous theatre company but becomes involved in the drug scene. He lives rough and there are lots of shots from around the traps in Melbourne. It shows him living in a laundry of an apartment block.
The few scenes where it actually shows him shooting up shock. But in context I think it is important. This is a no holds back approach. I wonder whether the producer/director became too involved but it would not have allowed you to become involved as well if they didn’t.
The one relationship he did have was with a man. It was handled quickly and not fully explained. However he just said they clicked and then it seemed unclicked just as quick and has never had any more to do with him even though he said he loved him dearly.
The scenes of him standing outside houses he has “burged” seem amusing but also represent the depths of depravity this man had fallen. His attitude was all very cavalier. When he robbed a friend of a family heirloom with special significance he really was not remorseful but rather more concerned about the consequences of the cops. When the producer tells him the police will be turning up the next day to get him…he just says oh well I wont be here then.
Having him at the movie gave it even more reasonance. Now 60+ you hope for a better life for him but he has travelled a rough path. His ability to face it has to be admired but you have to wonder 1. whether he has learnt anything or 2 what he makes of it. He took the approach that he just wanted people to know that everyone has a story and that is true.
(nb I was shocked to learn that his brother is one of the characters you occasionally see on Brunswick St. He is almost illiterate and very hard to understand. He reeks and invades your personal space. But hearing his story is gutwrenching. He was put in Ararat psyche unit and abused. It gives you some understanding as to why he is.)
The few scenes where it actually shows him shooting up shock. But in context I think it is important. This is a no holds back approach. I wonder whether the producer/director became too involved but it would not have allowed you to become involved as well if they didn’t.
The one relationship he did have was with a man. It was handled quickly and not fully explained. However he just said they clicked and then it seemed unclicked just as quick and has never had any more to do with him even though he said he loved him dearly.
The scenes of him standing outside houses he has “burged” seem amusing but also represent the depths of depravity this man had fallen. His attitude was all very cavalier. When he robbed a friend of a family heirloom with special significance he really was not remorseful but rather more concerned about the consequences of the cops. When the producer tells him the police will be turning up the next day to get him…he just says oh well I wont be here then.
Having him at the movie gave it even more reasonance. Now 60+ you hope for a better life for him but he has travelled a rough path. His ability to face it has to be admired but you have to wonder 1. whether he has learnt anything or 2 what he makes of it. He took the approach that he just wanted people to know that everyone has a story and that is true.
(nb I was shocked to learn that his brother is one of the characters you occasionally see on Brunswick St. He is almost illiterate and very hard to understand. He reeks and invades your personal space. But hearing his story is gutwrenching. He was put in Ararat psyche unit and abused. It gives you some understanding as to why he is.)
Be Like Others
This strange documentary looks at the life of transsexuals in Iran. I knew of the arrangements where people could “marry” for an hour but to see it in practice in this way still appalls. This movie presented what you needed to know but somehow was not quite tight enough. The editing failed it.
It showed the contrast between one male who did really want to become a woman. There was another who decided it was not for him. I suppose you come away thinking that it is best to leave people to decide their own sexuality for themselves. There was an element of this that showed that the operation was an easy option for those in this situation. They all were quite religious and the operation was condoned by the church.
There was a lesbian woman right at the start of the film who you would be interested to know what happened but she seemed to disappear. Even though it is not a slick movie it is definitely worth watching just to understand the issue just through someone else’s eyes.
It showed the contrast between one male who did really want to become a woman. There was another who decided it was not for him. I suppose you come away thinking that it is best to leave people to decide their own sexuality for themselves. There was an element of this that showed that the operation was an easy option for those in this situation. They all were quite religious and the operation was condoned by the church.
There was a lesbian woman right at the start of the film who you would be interested to know what happened but she seemed to disappear. Even though it is not a slick movie it is definitely worth watching just to understand the issue just through someone else’s eyes.
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