Change Your Image
ocaastro
Reviews
Arven (2003)
This superb film has several important themes
I rarely give a 10 rating to a film even when I really enjoy it but this film is the rare exception. The script is perfect, the directing is perfect, the casting is perfect, and the story has profound meaning for the viewer.
The film shows how family and business obligations can change people's character and desires. For example, Hollywood is filled with couples whose desires change because of life experiences. It is also true of the business world. Unfortunately that is why divorce is so common in those areas. A couple may start out completely compatible and then one of them has new vistas opened to them.
Dancer in the Dark (2000)
Warning about Dancer In The Dark
This is a very strange film. People dance in a factory for no reason. People dance on a moving freight train for no reason. This is carrying artistic license too far. The story line makes the heroin allow a friend to force her to kill him. Even though she is totally blind she doesn't want anyone to know it. I didn't watch this film to its conclusion.
What amazes me is that this is the same author/director who wrote and directed Breaking The Waves which was an outstanding film to say the least. Evidently success went to the authors head and he began to think everything that came from his pen was brilliant stuff. Unfortunately such is not the case. So you have been warned. View this film at your own risk.
Der amerikanische Soldat (1970)
A gangster film with sleepwalker's.
This is the slowest moving gangster film I've ever seen. Each character in the film walks slowly, makes slow gestures, takes forever to answer the phone, and the dialog really drags. Only the slaps speed things up. It seems to be done on purpose by Fassbinder and I can't fathom why. Some of readers of IMDb comments about Fassbinder's films may have noticed that I have written critical comments about several of his films. I'm a fan of Fassbinder and do admire his "Lola", "Marriage of Maria Bran", "Ali; Fear Eats The Soul", "Merchant Of Four Seasons", The Bitter Tears Of Petra Von Kant", and "Effie Briest". But there are times when Fassbinder can turn out a dud and then he really makes a disastrous film. I suppose that is what a genius does. I just wish we could see his "Berlin Alexanderplatz" and "Lili Marleen" on DVD.
Chinesisches Roulette (1976)
A Brittle Explosion
This film brings together family members in an explosive situation involving sex. The tension steadily increases until violence erupts. You might say it occurs all the time with a thousand variations. As I watched the film it reminded me of the plays of Georges Feydeau, the great classic bedroom farces that continue to be presented all over the world.
Feydeau's tactic is to bring together people in situations and circumstances that the participants would never in a thousand years want it to happen. Feydeau sees how ridiculous sex can be particularly when it leads to misbehavior, Fassbinder studies the tragedy sex can bring to a family, particularly where children are concerned. Personally I prefer the French touch.
Warnung vor einer heiligen Nutte (1971)
Fassbinder missed it on this one.
This film is supposed to be about the frustrations of film making. It certainly frustrated me with its endless boredom. The setting is an attractive Spanish seacoast resort with his usual large cast. The script is very poorly written or maybe there was no script. Just all ad-lib.
A far superior film about the frustrations of film making is Francois Truffaut's "Day For Night" made in 1973. It shows all the delays and how the cast can misbehave in an intriguing manner. It doesn't bore the viewer and you gain sympathy for the director who somehow must complete the film.
Querelle (1982)
Even Worse Than Satan's Brew
Well it proves that Fassbinder was capable of making masterpieces and dogs. And that the dogs could occur very late in his career as well.
Fassbinder's first blunder was selecting a story by Jean Genet whom I think only wrote while he was drunk. The story line is ham fisted and terribly contrived.
I sat through the entire film hoping it would finally demonstrate some greatness but it remained consistently awful. After seeing more of his films including "Lola" and "The Marriage of Maria Braun" which were superb films I know Fassbinder is a great director who is capable of serious mistakes. I used to think it was his drug habit that screwed up his reasoning but when he put his mind to it he could stay sober for long periods of time. I think he just wanted to give the finger from time to time to the middle class.
Satansbraten (1976)
By Far Fasasbinder's Worst Film
It seemed as though the film crew was inebriated during the entire filming. When a drunk sobers up he finds that what seemed like masterful writing is actually junk! I kept hoping it would improve but it stayed at an unfortunate one rating.
So this is a warning that this film is terrible and without any saving grace. I admire Fassbinder as a director and he has made some fine films but for some reason he lost it on this one.
It is supposed to be a comedy but I found no humor in it, black or otherwise. Even the nude scenes don't help the film. There is absolutely no story line or reason for making this film.
Il gattopardo (1963)
Visconti's greatest masterpiece!!
It is finally available on DVD!! Why did it take until July 2004 to get it done? There is a beautiful set available of 3 DVD's with both the Italian and American versions plus wonderful comments about making the film by the crew and some cast.
The film is based on an international best seller, a novel based on fact which was written by a Sicilian prince about his ancestors. The book and film are filled with subtle hints about the history of Italy and Sicily. Since Visconti himself was an Italian aristocrat, he was raised in a aristocratic environment and ideally suited to make this film.
I think it is one of the best films ever made! Bert Lancaster said it is his greatest role.