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Reviews
King of New York (1990)
Is it a gangster flick?
After watching King Of New York again recently, I noticed that huge emphasis on the 'gothic' and the idea of the 'vampire', (must have been blind not to notice it the first time). This is emphasised especially in Christopher Walken's character. Everything from the way that he is shot in a bluish haze to his 'vampiric' female accomplices. It raises the question, 'is this really a gangster film?'. It follows the 'rise and fall' style of the genre, but it is the subtle aspects of the film that make it edge towards gothic horror. Noteworthy is Ferrara's use of Expressionist-style camera work, and Walken's dream like state - the 'walking dead' gangster who has risen one final time to take revenge on those who have wronged him. Overall a stylish and ambitious film from an extremely unique director.
Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972)
Kinski's finest performance ... Coppola's greatest influence
I could watch this film without the subtitles and enjoy it just as much for it's visual value. Klaus Kinski provides the greatest performance of his career as the power-mad Aguirre. More is said about his character by several scenes where he says nothing ... his powerful blue-eyed stare says more about madness than Hertzog's script, (although the script is also brilliant).
As a huge fan of Francis Coppola's Apocalypse Now, which I had seen several times before I saw Aguirre, I was amazed at the similarity of the two films. Both feature obvious thematic similarities ... (journey down a river to an unexpected fate, decent into madness, the jungle, hostile locals etc) but two scene's from Apocalypse Now, I believe, are a homage to Hertzog's/Kinski's work. The Dennis Hopper monologue around the bamboo cage is first seen performed by Kinski in Aguirre. Coppola also replaced a plane in a tree-top instead of the surreal image of the boat in the tree top in Aguirre. Also the monk's narrative may be seen as an inspiration for Williard's in Coppola's film.
All round, great performances from the entire cast. I doubt I will ever see a better portrayal of madness now that Kinski is no longer with us.
Un chien andalou (1929)
Got me a movie ... ah ah aah aaahhh
The Pixies said it best when they sang about this film ... "got me a movie... slicing up eyeballs ... don't know about you, but I am un chien andalou... wanna grow up to be a debaser" I love this film. The first, and greatest tribute to surrealist cinema (Dali painted, Bunuel wrote and did collage - I think). To understand true surrealism ... and the development of it that lead to David Lynch ... one has to see this film!
Boogie Nights (1997)
The rise and the fall ...
Boogie Nights follows a theme that is extremely familiar to gangster films (although it doesn't fit into that genre itself) - the rise and the fall. We see the rise of several individuals, some of them from complete obscurity, to achieving great heights ... and then falling from grace due to their excesses.
I believe that this is the first feature by writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, and it's a great start! I saw elements of other directors' influences, such as Robert Altman, but the film holds its own in originality and plot development.
Character development is the movie's finest feature. I really identified with all of the characters and felt their pain and their success with them. All of the performances were brilliant. (It was especially good to see a small part performed by real-life porn veteran, Nina Hartley).
Basically this film combines comedy and tragedy with the result being one of the best films of 1997, which was snubbed at the Oscars (probably due to the "racy" - as they would say - subject matter, and the general conservatism of the Academy.
Two Hands (1999)
Part of the appeal of this film is that I came from the 'burbs and I knew people like that!
As an Australian, who grew up in the suburbs, I can only complement the director/writer of this film for portraying the characters in such a realistic way. As I was watching the film I found myself thinking (and saying out-loud) "I knew these people!". Every detail pertaining to the portrayal of Pando and his associates was spot-on, from the language to the choice of cars. This is possibly one of the best Australian films that I have ever seen. It captures the lifestyle of the Kings Cross criminal scene with a mixture of emotion and humour. My only guilt was that I found myself laughing at the most violent of incidents. This film is great. It is beyond an Australian version of 'Pulp Fiction' ... it beats it by miles!!!!