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Reviews
Sideways (2004)
Touching portrait of middle life crisis
I envy some of the reviewers who gave "Sideways" low rating. This is because either:
1.They are too young full of hopes and dreams, denying any connection with these two pathetic losers in the film.
2.They have not experienced ever any self destruction feelings or continuous frustration;
3.They are too "sophisticated" or "artistic" to be attracted by this movie with its earthly "common" humor and the naive optimism.
4. Their "moral" is so high, to be bothered with the "bad" behavior of the characters, overlooking the entire movie.
I think most people experience middle life crisis,when one realizes that most of his life has gone without accomplishing anything worth mentioning,and that he is not special as he thought in early days, and that it is far too late to fix it.This is the "Sober up" time and it is heartbreaking. The scene of Miles sitting in a McDonald restaurant, alone eating a Mack meal, while drinking the expensive rare wine,which he kept so many years for the right occasion, with a plastic cup, always brings tears to my eyes.
"Sideways" handle this subject with care, love, understanding, fun and with a glimpse of hope, and that is more than enough for me.
The Long Goodbye (1973)
A Great Masterpiece
When I first saw the film it was after I've read Chandler's book and I was disappointed, because it was not the same Marlowe and not the same story. Now, after seeing this film many times I can say without hesitation that this is a masterpiece an Altman is a master of his craft.I think, that if it was made according to the book, it would be long forgotten.
The film is all about masks, misleading and misinterpretation.These are the bases of P.I. s' movies, and as Marlowe says all over the film "That's alright with me", but when it gets to Marlow's inner circle and ruins its basic beliefs its not "alright" anymore.
The cynical mask Marlowe wore in the relatively "naive" 40', so he could cope with the harsh reality then, isnt enough for the "sober" 70',and he had to change it to an indifferent clown mask. He think he could get away with this mask, but the treacherous reality gets to him at last. Eliot Gould is terrific in this role
Unlike many reviewers, I think the real Chandler's Marlow without the masks is revealed in the finale scene with Terry.
Nina Van Planndat who played Eileen Wade was known as the misstress of a well-known hoaxer at the time, and that contributed to her enigmatic role.She plays the fragile beaten woman (The blond femme fatale). Sterling Hyden is great as full of rage and bad manners Roger Wade.These impressions are of course all masks, but Marlowe fails to interpret them right, until its too late. The only one who doesn't wear mask is augustine (Mark Rydel in a real horrific performance)and he is the key for solving the mystery.
Dont expect a Marlowe regular. this film reflects the mood of one of the worst eras in US recent history, and its dark soul is masked by colors and brilliant directing and performance.
Le cercle rouge (1970)
Great classic masterpiece
This is a really great masterpiece which is a tribute to the great American Westerns (mostly "Rio Bravo")and to American "Noir" films of the 40' and 50'. The story is about three "lone wolf" outlaws meeting together, gather forces, overcome their weaknesses (Montand alcohol addiction is parallel to dean martin addiction in "Rio Bravo")and have the job done. The growing bounds of friendship, loyalty and gratitude between men, you can sense without words, is very powerful and very similar to those of John Wayne's bunch of losers in Rio Bravo. But unlike classic westerns, the film has a "noir" classic ending. To my opinion Melville has reached with this film to the Panteon of film directors. Maybe I'm too blunt, but I'll suggest all those who were disappointed with this film, to stick with "Dumb and Dumber".
Carlito's Way (1993)
This film can be called "poetry in motion"
It is really unfair telling the story of the film, because it sounds so banal and familiar, that many viewers (including many critics) just skipped it. Otherwise I cant explain why this really magnificent film was most underrated.
When I first saw this movie, I just knew that I want to see it again, immediately. I Saw it 3 Times in the theatre (a week interval between each other)and each time I was more and more convinced that this was the best film ever (I still think so 10 years after).
What made me love this film so much is that it is much much better than its ingredients, which are praise for themselves. The story line is much complex, interesting and surprising than it sounds in the beginning. We know at the beginning how it ends, but the "story telling" is so delicious and thrilling that knowing the end just adds to our involvement with the protagonist. The acting of all the cast (Pacino, penn and Ann Miller, Guzman, Leugziamo and mortensen) is like Carlito says "Top drawer". The music scores and the seventies era illustrated in this film made me very nostalgic and allegic. The real hero of this film is De Palma. He seems to make this masterpiece effortlessly, combining great action and horror scenes (which he masters without a competition) with surprisingly tender and touching love scenes. It seems like he winks at us, as to say "If I wanted to, I could have bit Coppola or Scorsese in their playground without sweat"
Charley Varrick (1973)
One of the best ever
This is one of the best action flicks ever made. The contradiction between Walt's funny grumpy face (which served him well in dozens of comedies)and his cleverness, wit and disillusion, keeping him one step ahead of all his pursuers till the end, is brilliant. The way he treat the baddies at the end is most enjoyable. The baddies are awesome: John Vernon is one of my favorite baddies of all times, and Joe Don Baker is simply legend in this film. This film put a big smile on your face which walks with you many days. Yes its violent but not more than nowadays films. Don siegel is one of the best action film directors ever, and a remake of this film without him and without the original cast wouldn't top the original. However, it is interesting to see what a smash hit can tarantino, mostow or other top action directors make out of this underrated classic.