alanseifert Reviews

D-Day the Sixth of June (1956)

A sad movie with a very sad ending!

[4 January 2008]

In your 'goofs' section you state that Capt Parker says that he has been over here for three years and three months thus meaning he was involved in the war eight months before America entered the war. I watched the movie yesterday (on TV) and Parker definitely replies 'TWO years and three months' when asked. Phew, this means he came over here AFTER America entered the war. That's a relief then! I enjoyed the film. It was a little slow at times and half way through I suddenly remembered the ending (I must have seen it many years ago). I kept hoping the ending wasn't what I thought but it was. Sad. But I thought Dana Wynter was lovely and Richard Todd was excellent. A very enjoyable movie.

Two Days in Paris (2007)

I love Paris......but not this time

[2/10 · 4 September 2007]

I love Paris and I love July Delpy but I hated this film. Adam Goldberg's character was supposed to be an interior designer but he showed no sign of having any artistic or creative talent. Instead he complained all the time, faked illness and behaved jealously. Hardly a man of the world. What July saw in him I don't know. The entire film was made up of irritating, loud, obnoxious characters, and I include the parents in this summation. I think July wrote the film as a follow up to Before Sunset and it may have worked with Ethan Hawke but it certainly didn't work with Adam Goldberg. A lot of the subtlety of Before Sunset was missing. Maybe July needed a firm hand, like Richard Linklater, to rein her in.

The Painted Veil (2006)

Love in the time of Cholera

[4/10 · 16 May 2007]

I've read very good reviews about this film and very good comments on IMDb but I've got to differ. I was really disappointed. I thought the film looked great but at no time did I feel it captured the style of 1920's England or even China. For a scientist/missionary whatever in the outposts of China Edward Norton always looked a little bit too well groomed (who cut his hair so perfectly, and his white hat was always so white)and Naomi always looked perfectly made up, even in her despair during the harrowing scenes in the hospital. Also, I don't think they had Botox in those days (!)but she sure looked Botoxed out! And another thing....from hating each other, and I mean, hating, they very quickly kindled an enduring love after one night of passion occassioned by some stiff drinking. This was a long film but it felt very rushed in the last quarter. (Having said the above, I did actually quite enjoy it!)

Black Book (2006)

Verhoeven stretches our believe.

[23 January 2007]

I saw this film on its first day of release, in England. I say that because I was really looking forward to it. When it was over I called my (Dutch) girlfriend and said 'it's an absolutely awful film!'. I agree it is easy on the eye and Carice van Houten is great to look at but the story is preposterous. It's exciting, moving and compelling, but some of the twists are just too much, bearing in mind this is supposed to be a serious film about the Dutch in World War 2. Having said that, I did tell my girlfriend to go see it, if only to hear her opinion. I SO wanted to love it. I was SO disappointed. I can't detail any of the nonsense twists without spoilers but there is one episode that is so far fetched as to bely belief. Also (this isn't a spoiler) are we really supposed to believe that the Nazi SS commander and head of Gestapo in Amsterdam, Muntze, is really a pretty nice guy underneath. He's SS, Gestapo, for goodness sake. We're supposed to be rooting for him? Don't think so!

The Unforgiven (1960)

Paleface never misses!

[7/10 · 19 August 2005]

I just saw this film again (on TV) for the first time in maybe ten years or so. I agree with most of the above comments and criticisms of the film. It is indeed The Searchers in reverse but in this case the 'searcher' is the villain because he is an Indian Chief (John Saxon), looking for his sister (Audrey Hepburn). It seems that the white man's hatred of the Indians exceeds the hatred of the Indians who try to negotiate for the peaceful return of the sister. Interesting that both films were made by the same director (John Huston). In the Searchers we root for John Wayne who plays an out and out racist who would rather kill his niece than rescue her because she has been sullied by the Indians whereas in the Unforgiven we don't root for the Indians who are prepared to 'buy' the Indian girl back, even though she has been sullied by the white man (if you follow me!)One other thing (could be a spoiler), in the final shoot out every time a Zachary shoots, an Indian goes down. They never miss! Even old lady Zachary (Lillian Gish) bags her fair share. Apart from that quibble (poetic licence, I guess) the Unforgiven is a pretty good movie with some alarmingly honest views of racism out West.

My Summer of Love (2004)

Two young girls from different backgrounds meet and fall in love - as adolescents do.

[29 October 2004]

This is a charming film. A pretty simple story of two slightly dysfunctional girls who meet by chance and become drawn to each other, who fall in love through the summer vacation, who have fun together and then, inevitably, part, is brought totally to life by the charismatic performances of the two young leads. The film looks gorgeous, shot in the beautiful Yorkshire moors, and the direction is sharp. This film is a near perfect rendition of an oft told tale of growing pains and confused adolescent feelings and is so delightfully rendered as to make any further comment superfluous. To see it is to love it! Go see.

Dogville (2003)

Everyone is evil

[2 March 2004]

This is an extraordinary film made by one of the best and most inventive directors working today. Lars von Trier is also one of the most challenging. He doesn't make it easy for his audience but usually you leave the cinema after seeing one of his films elated and inspired. Dogville is one of his best films and is certainly the best film of the year so far. The story is simple, harking back to early Westerns, but there's an astonishing twist at the end that quite literally takes your breath away. von Trier's set is very theatrical but it works. You are able to see and experience everything that is going on in the town of Dogville as it happens and the way this is achieved is very clever. In particular there is one scene that is quite shocking but at the same time everything taking place around it is normal and calm which adds enormously to the sense of shock and disquiet.The acting by the ensemble cast if first rate. Nicole Kidman's performance is magnificent and deserving of an Oscar but this is not the kind of film that normally attracts Academy votes, otherwise I'd say von Trier should be nominated for Best Director. Quite simply, this is a masterpiece which deserves every accolade heaped upon it. Not to everyone's taste I guess, but then I hated Love Actually which was a box office hit so what do I know?

Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Close, but no cigars.

[10 February 2004]

This film, while enjoyable, could have been great. Diane Keaton was terrific. Great to see that Annie Hall matured so well, without losing her kooky charm! I thought Amanda Peet as the daughter of a famous and serious playwright acted too 'spoilt' and Francis McDormand was wasted. She's too good an actress to be playing such a small role. It was however a fun and predictable story with no surprises. Spoilers: Why would any woman, never mind one under thirty, fancy Jack Nicholson? Ok, I'm a guy but come on, girls, are you really that attracted to him that you would want to spend the weekend with him at your Mom's beachhouse? Even before his heart attack, in the movie, he looked like he was gonna keel over at any moment! There were several moments that didn't hang true but I guess this is a romantic comedy so poetic licence applies. Oh, what the heck, I enjoyed it!

Lost in Translation (2003)

A delightful film, capturing the mood of loneliness perfectly

[13 January 2004]

This is a delightful film which captures the mood and tone of loneliness. Two people, trapped in a huge crazy, alien city, lonely and seemingly abandoned, meet and connect. That's all there is to it but Sofia Coppola has captured first their despair, and then their relief at finding each other, absolutely perfectly. The performances are wonderful. Bill Murray plays the jaded movie star with just the right amount of ennui and irritation, while Scarlett Johannsen literally lights up the screen with her mix of boredom and enthusiasm. Despite what some critics on IMDb have said, this is not a rascist movie and I suspect that most of those who have made this criticism have not been to Tokyo. IT'S JUST LIKE THAT, GUYS! In my opinion this film is beautifully observed. If it was in Mandarin or French people would be hailing it as a masterpiece (think 'In the Mood for Love'). It's not that but it comes pretty close.

Love Actually (2003)

Tripe, actually

[30 November 2003]

In all my years as a cineast I don't think I've ever seen a worse film. It's your classic English, sexist, xenophobic, 'laugh at the fat girl', 'aren't we smart' kind of movie that gives a new meaning to 'pass the sick bucket'. I sincerely hope all those involved in it get irritable bowel syndrome while sitting at home counting their money. Horrible,horrible, horrible.

The Believer (2001)

Best American film of the year.

[15 December 2001]

This is the best American film of the year and I understand it is not released in the US!Ryan Gosling is astounding. It is an extremely disturbing and frightening movie but one that also educates and moves. Not to be missed at any cost.