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Reviews
Another Woman (1988)
An Intellectual "Horror" Movie
I really enjoyed this Woody Allen dramatic movie. To me this was an intellectual "horror" movie. Things real and imagined that happened made the final reality at the end only more horrific. The cinematography by Sven Nykvist, the cinematographer for many of Ingmar Bergman's films, was excellent. This was the first time for most of the cast of well know actors to be in a Woody Allen film and their performances were excellent. Mia Farrow was really the only carry over from previous movies. Her role was almost biographical. Woody Allen dramatic movies are so much like stage productions in impact. I have liked his previous ones, but they always seemed so forced and "loud" in getting their point across. This one seemed more subtle and quiet, but still hit hard.
Der Krieger und die Kaiserin (2000)
Bonnie & Clyde in Slow Motion
A very interesting movie. A very "German" movie; if you've seen enough of them you know what I mean. The commentary for deleted scenes a "lesson" in editing. I especially like how they commented that scenes deleted leave "ghosts" because they set the motivations and mood for the actors that are "unseen" in the movie. It moves so very slow, but is so visual. A good movie, but definitely not for everyone.
Badlands (1973)
Very Visual
This film on DVD is a visual treat. Each new scene is composed with a photograph eye to color and imagery. The sound track is empressive also. It is only the plot that is depressing as is any story and especially any movie that has the need to portray the lives of a killers. This story is well told and has meaning beyond the acts, but it is just not the type of story I feel comfortable recommending to others regardless of how the much the cinematography, sound and acting rates a 10.
Detour (1992)
Interesting Remake
This 1992 remake of the original 1945 movie is one of the few remakes that I have seen that is in most respects a perfect match with the original. It uses the same script, nearly line for line. Most of the camera shots are the same. Some scenes or additional dialogue has been added that probably was in the original script, but not in the original movie from 1945. This movie was made by the son of the actor that had the lead role in the original movie. This movie is in color, but keeps with the "film noir" darkness of the original black and white movie. The acting is, to put it bluntly, terrible. My guess would be that most of it was done in a single take. Other than the acting, the movie is fairly good.
Heat (1995)
A DVD Visual Action Masterpiece
This movie must be viewed either in a theater or on DVD in widescreen (letter-box). It is an outstanding example of how much more of visual experience the widescreen provides. Michael Mann (director) fully uses the entire width of the screen. So much of the movie shows the skillful capturing of the scenes that represent the "art" of the professional still photographer. The drama and action of an excellent screenplay (also by Michael Mann) make for an outstanding movie.
Stir of Echoes (1999)
A Scary Sixth Sense
This movie is more of what I expected the Sixth Sense to be like. This movie is also similar to The Shining. Watching it on DVD with 5-1 sound is excellent. A well directed movie. I especially like the way he did the hypnosis section.
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
A Matrix of Trainspotting and Bound
This film reminded me of elements in Trainspotting and of direction elements in Bound and The Matrix. A complex set of seemingly unrelated elements that get resolved by the films end. A very good film. The DVD has trailers for the US and UK. It is surprising that they are so different.
12:01 PM (1990)
Similarity Too Similar
The similarities between this 30 minute "movie" from 1990 and the feature movie "Groundhog Day" from 1993 are too similar for them to not be more closely related. The latter surely must have been influenced by the earlier movie.
The stories are very similar, but even more similar is the outstanding way in which both movies are directed. Even though the "same" timeframe is being repeated, the director shifts the camera perspective and dialogue encountered each time so neither film is boring.