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emperornorton9
September 1859
Reviews
Broken English (2007)
Mildly enjoyable, but largely recycled
Broken English is a formulaic romantic comedy about a thirty-year old woman's (Nora, well played by Parker Posey) search for love. This is a story that has been around the block and while director Zoe Cassavetes barely manages to make the film her own (somewhat redeeming) through the many colorful subplots of Nora's suitors and acquaintances. much of the script is riddled with contrivances and stilted dialogue.
Cassavetes discusses some of her film's main themes in an interview: "When I thought of the idea for Broken English it was at a time when I was totally overwhelmed by people asking me whether I was married or had a boyfriend...I think it comes at a certain age where society almost insists that you fall in love, get married and have children." This theme is dealt with primarily in the first half of the film, before Nora meets Mr. Right, but is conveyed in such a way that much of the dialogue feels stiff and forced; the characters archetypal. Nora's parents are presented as one-note slot machines that serve only to question Nora's marital status while Nora continues her seemingly fruitless search.
Most of the romantic-comedy conventions are here. Nora suffers from sexual frustration, depression, anxiety; their source is apparently her inability to find a man. Her parents are a burden. Nora's best friend is the married counterpart and Nora's big romance is put on hold due to her lover's return to France, only to be resumed in a predictable reunion at the end.
Nora goes out on several dates, the first of which is a hilariously self-obsessed and pretentious movie actor, well played by Justin Theroux. Another acquaintance of Nora's provides a more original and charming scene with a middle aged Frenchman who offers her drunken advice. Nora is also deeply moved by a psychic who tells her fortune as she walks down the street. These vignettes make up the film's own voice and creative strength, the rest is mildly enjoyable, but largely recycled.
The Rape of Europa (2006)
A must-see for art or WWII historians as well as those simply interested.
The Rape of Europa is a slick, well shot, well directed, interesting, highly informative and still entertaining documentary from the directorial triumvirate of Bonni Cohen, Nicole Newnham and Richard Berge. The documentary uses the book by Lynn H. Nicholas of the same name as a kind of runway for its exploration of the Nazi's systematic plundering of Europe's art. The film incorporates interviews, voice over narration. vintage footage photos and documents that all work cooperatively in making this documentary work in every respect. The film takes its viewers on an in depth journey of the subject through seven European countries, most notably France, Italy, Poland and Germany.
The film sheds light on Hitler's own personal art career, from his rejection of Vienna's art Academy to his plans to amass the world's largest art collection in his ideal city. Interesting and relatively unknown facts are uncovered that relate Hitler's art career to his actions as dictator. Hitler's antisemitism, as one interview subject suggests, was likely fueled by his rejection from Vienna's art Academy as the academy's panel was largely Jewish. Hitler also created a "hit-list" of famous works he wanted for his collection, most of which directly correspond to his invasion of various European countries. Art collecting was a highly important pastime among Nazi officials for a variety of reasons, as discussed largely with Herman Goering and Hitler himself who had amassed enormous, unparalleled personal collections, largely through theft.
Another highly interesting portion of the film shows the perilous and miraculous journey many of these works underwent. As a Nazi invasion loomed, hundreds of people, in France's world famous Louvre for example, gathered and worked tirelessly, packing the priceless art and transferring it to castles throughout the French countryside. The daughter of the man entrusted with the Mona Lisa is interviewed in the film.
The film examines the seventy-year plus struggle to restore and reclaim these stolen masterpieces, many of which remain unaccounted for. The allied position of fighting while simultaneously trying to maintain the hostage art is also discussed in detail, as well as the Allied efforts to return the art after it was repossessed. The film is a must-see for art or WWII historians as well as those simply interested.