I can't say much more about this movie than what has recently been said about it here. Only that it's great to have it on DVD and also great that people are starting to take another look at what is one of Leone's more "low key" films but which is really right up there with the best of them. The story is told in quite a sobering, down to earth way, and perhaps because each point isn't driven home with a sledgehammer, the film is sometimes dismissed as a "lightweight". It does have some hilarious exchanges between the two leads but also tackles a serious topic (revolutions and their effect on people). The video release of this film (with sizable chunks of the story missing) couldn't have helped matters much. Watching it (almost complete) on DVD, you become aware of the great locations used, the great use of music, and the inventive way sound is used e.g. sometimes overlapping from one scene to another. Not to mention great acting! And also the great set pieces - any one of them could have been used by itself as a finale in a lesser film -Leone sure gives value for money! 10/10.
Reviews
13 Reviews
Amadeus
(1984)
Mozart not American!
11 December 2003
This film might have been able to get by on wonderful music and grandiose spectacle, but casting an American actor to play Mozart (and his chick) is a serious mis-service to history. The fact that many reviewers approve of this movie & rate it so highly is proof of this. I'm not against American culture per se (far from it) but the Americanisation of history in films (i.e. which gives the impression that many significant figures from the past grew up somewhere near Disneyland) is a terrible thing - it whitewashes cultural diversity & gives a totally distorted view of the world as it was, and still is. This cannot be overlooked. If an Austrian actor was chosen for the part (not Arnie) the film probably would have made less money so I guess that wasn't an option? Better to cast someone who appeared in "Animal House"? Instead of a "Directors' cut" how about a "Realistic cut"? Please explain?...well, if one of the characters in "Amadeus" had stepped out to buy a cheeseburger from Macdonald's or had switched on "MTV" at some point in this movie, it would not have seemed out of place - in what's supposed to be the story of an Austrian composer who lived in the 18th century! In other words, Houston, we have a problem!
Un jeu d'enfants
(2001)
Not great but still good
12 October 2003
This is not a great movie but it's quite a good one with an eerie atmosphere - ideal viewing for the early hours of the morning. I missed the beginning so had to catch up on what it was all about - but I could tell right away that those kids were up to no good. As another reviewer noted, if you're thinking of starting a family then avoid this film - you may be persuaded otherwise! Maybe the denouement doesn't explain much but hey, this is a horror movie. The characters that played Mr & Mme Worms were (I thought) hideous in the extreme & enough to give you nightmares. A quietly creepy and menacing film.
The Cars That Ate Paris
(1974)
WONDERFULLY SYMBOLIC FILM!
31 August 2003
Until this week I hadn't seen this film for 15 years. Back then I wondered (like others) about the title, the plot & what it was all about. Having just watched it again though...
I guess it is a little dated and rough around the edges, and of course it's not about a man-eating VW(!) Whether or not it's a study of quirky small town life a la "Twin Peaks" is debatable. It's more a clever allegory of society in general. A society keen to disassociate itself from its primitive origins but being forced into an uneasy alliance with them. One that sees itself as being morally superior but one which tuns fertile land into desert, depletes the ocean of marine life and makes the Earth more uninhabitable (The society that ate itself?) A society which burdens it's youth with strict rules and regulations, while forcing them to take menial 9 to 5 jobs, or go to war in a far away land.
Note the Mayor's hypocrisy in his attitude towards the Bruce Spence character for causing an accident, while patting Arthur on the back for ramming one of the hoons (anti-war protesters?) who was using his car to rebel against the repressive society - one that refuses to allow him or anyone else to leave or "drop out". Also the Mayor's forcing the townsfolk to tow the line and make believe that the towns' activities are somehow "legitimate" and "necessary".
"Paris" is also a society that depends on newcomers (accident victims/immigrants) for its' survival, but insists they keep quiet about where they came from and denies them any rights in "affairs of state". The final scene of this film could be seen as representative of huge social upheaval (like that of the '50's & 60's) which frees (in theory at least) the people from the bonds which have held them down (conformity) and lets them step out of their humdrum existence and the discover the world. Whew, heavy stuff!
Apart from this, "The Cars That Ate Paris" is full of wonderful comic moments for those who like their humour a little black and extra-extra dry. Arthur being ceremoniously ordained as a parking officer then having a showdown with the local hoons (with a spaghetti western-ish soundtrack in the background). John Meillon holding his garden Aboriginal forlornly after having his front garden attacked. The odd facial expressions of Max Gillies, and the incredible gauchness of the annual ball. All in all a very insightful and thought provoking film.
I guess it is a little dated and rough around the edges, and of course it's not about a man-eating VW(!) Whether or not it's a study of quirky small town life a la "Twin Peaks" is debatable. It's more a clever allegory of society in general. A society keen to disassociate itself from its primitive origins but being forced into an uneasy alliance with them. One that sees itself as being morally superior but one which tuns fertile land into desert, depletes the ocean of marine life and makes the Earth more uninhabitable (The society that ate itself?) A society which burdens it's youth with strict rules and regulations, while forcing them to take menial 9 to 5 jobs, or go to war in a far away land.
Note the Mayor's hypocrisy in his attitude towards the Bruce Spence character for causing an accident, while patting Arthur on the back for ramming one of the hoons (anti-war protesters?) who was using his car to rebel against the repressive society - one that refuses to allow him or anyone else to leave or "drop out". Also the Mayor's forcing the townsfolk to tow the line and make believe that the towns' activities are somehow "legitimate" and "necessary".
"Paris" is also a society that depends on newcomers (accident victims/immigrants) for its' survival, but insists they keep quiet about where they came from and denies them any rights in "affairs of state". The final scene of this film could be seen as representative of huge social upheaval (like that of the '50's & 60's) which frees (in theory at least) the people from the bonds which have held them down (conformity) and lets them step out of their humdrum existence and the discover the world. Whew, heavy stuff!
Apart from this, "The Cars That Ate Paris" is full of wonderful comic moments for those who like their humour a little black and extra-extra dry. Arthur being ceremoniously ordained as a parking officer then having a showdown with the local hoons (with a spaghetti western-ish soundtrack in the background). John Meillon holding his garden Aboriginal forlornly after having his front garden attacked. The odd facial expressions of Max Gillies, and the incredible gauchness of the annual ball. All in all a very insightful and thought provoking film.
The Wicker Man
(1973)
YES, IT WAS A HORROR FILM BACK THEN!
25 August 2003
It's been a few months since I checked the comments for this movie, and wow, so many new comments, and so much anger expressed in some of the reviews. What gives? - have people been shelling out their savings in a desperate bid to find on-screen entertainment - only to have their hopes dashed against the rocks of disappointment? Sure sounds like it! I guess I better add my encounter/appointment with the Wicker Man to the list.
I first saw this movie when I was quite young on TV in the late '70's. I'm sure it would have been severely edited for TV - with very little sex or nudity to worry about, but it made a big impression on me and it left me feeling uneasy - this could well be the strangest movie I'd ever seen. My view of the world had just been altered! In every TV show, movie, and real life incident I'd observed up till that time, policemen (and other figures of authority) were always in control - and there were always others to back them up. That was the way of the world, wasn't it? So how could a figure of authority like Howie be so far out of his depth, and have so little control over his situation?"
True, this is not a horror film by what we expect of the genre these days i.e. monsters, psychotic killers etc. The real horror here is Howie's predicament, finding himself in a situation with no familiar boundaries, where the rules and regulations which he has existed by in normal society count for nought. This premise is much more subversive and scary (& should still be) than any haunted house or possessed teenager coughing up bile. People's lives are built upon assumptions & understandings about the way things work, and to have all these stripped away would indeed be frightening. The other aspects of the film? Well, I guess we are dissuaded from siding with Howie too much, and he is portrayed as something of a control freak, representing uptight conformity at it's most repressive. But siding with the pagans isn't all that easy either, which I guess leaves you dangling somewhere in between? The rituals & aspects of daily life shown in the film vary between quaint/bizarre/and just plain odd. The music? a matter of taste I guess - I ordered the CD soundtrack as soon as it came out and I wouldn't part with it. Will have to give this movie a 10 out of 10 on the "saw it when I was younger & I still think it's great (even if some other people don't)" scale.
I first saw this movie when I was quite young on TV in the late '70's. I'm sure it would have been severely edited for TV - with very little sex or nudity to worry about, but it made a big impression on me and it left me feeling uneasy - this could well be the strangest movie I'd ever seen. My view of the world had just been altered! In every TV show, movie, and real life incident I'd observed up till that time, policemen (and other figures of authority) were always in control - and there were always others to back them up. That was the way of the world, wasn't it? So how could a figure of authority like Howie be so far out of his depth, and have so little control over his situation?"
True, this is not a horror film by what we expect of the genre these days i.e. monsters, psychotic killers etc. The real horror here is Howie's predicament, finding himself in a situation with no familiar boundaries, where the rules and regulations which he has existed by in normal society count for nought. This premise is much more subversive and scary (& should still be) than any haunted house or possessed teenager coughing up bile. People's lives are built upon assumptions & understandings about the way things work, and to have all these stripped away would indeed be frightening. The other aspects of the film? Well, I guess we are dissuaded from siding with Howie too much, and he is portrayed as something of a control freak, representing uptight conformity at it's most repressive. But siding with the pagans isn't all that easy either, which I guess leaves you dangling somewhere in between? The rituals & aspects of daily life shown in the film vary between quaint/bizarre/and just plain odd. The music? a matter of taste I guess - I ordered the CD soundtrack as soon as it came out and I wouldn't part with it. Will have to give this movie a 10 out of 10 on the "saw it when I was younger & I still think it's great (even if some other people don't)" scale.
Cross of Iron
(1977)
A LESSER PECKINPAH
24 August 2003
Frightening!, horrendous! - and that's just the cast! I'm a big Sam Peckinpah fan but this movie (though interesting) is well below par. I can tolerate James Coburn (though he seems to be using the same accent he affected in "Fistfull of Dynamite" - as an ex-IRA man), but James Mason & David Warner as German officers?!! Steady on old chap! Their scenes together are so stiff upper lip they appear to be acting in Zulu Dawn - maybe they thought they were? A few reviewers have suggested this is a good companion to "Das Boot", but one of the great things about that movie is the German cast, who (wow!) even communicate with each other in German. So refreshing after years of seeing British &/or American actors pretending to be French/German/Oriental(!) by affecting "just zee right accent". Today, in the age of "world movies", James Mason as a German is about as convincing as Brad Pitt playing Malcolm X. That's the way movies were made back then I guess so you can't blame Peckinpah too much, but it does put a strain on the credibility. Maybe because I have high expectations of any Peckinpah film this one let me down, but aside from the miscasting I think it lacked substance & was nowhere as good as the director's other work. It seemed fairly shallow (considering the subject matter), and consequently lacking impact. The sets looked a bit fake too. Oh well, still plenty of other Peckinpah to enjoy. And how about Maximillian Schell? (the token European)- the only actor to appear in both a Peckinpah movie and "The Thorn Birds"? (sure hope so!!)
Last Tango in Paris
(1972)
TAKES TWO TO TANGO!
27 May 2003
This is one which will always divide critical opinion. It's been one of my all time favorite movies since I first saw it 8 years ago, and to me it's perfect in every way: great actors, thought provoking story, painfully honest dialogue, great setting and a wonderful soundtrack by Gato Barbieri. So do I recommend it to everyone? No! Unless you want to like this movie you probably wont (ditto for the music). There isn't much tango dancing and it's not all that uplifting (two things prospective viewers might expect from the title and cover!) Other reviewers (and not just on this site) have scoffed at the notion of LTIP being "art" and have said it's pretentious and empty. I guess that's in the eye of the beholder; plenty of films try to be meaningful and make a big statement - some work, some don't: it's a thin line between art and pretension and to me "Last Tango" walks that line quite successfully, while some other films placed on a pedestal don't. So try it (if you think you might like it!).
Looker
(1981)
Proceed with caution!
26 May 2003
To this films' credit, I did manage to sit through the whole thing - and there are a couple of interesting "ideas" (discussed more lucidly on the back cover of the video than onscreen) The main problem though is that the acting, suspense, and production values are no better than those of a "Brady Bunch" episode - or any other TV show of that vintage. There were "Stun Gun" shoot-outs (Star Trek?), unbelievable resolutions to events, holes in the plot, and questions left unanswered like: "Why were the girls being killed?" It was watchable but
by no means a great movie: "It's the story, of a plastic surgeon, who gave face lifts to some very lovely girls ....."
by no means a great movie: "It's the story, of a plastic surgeon, who gave face lifts to some very lovely girls ....."
The Hit
(1984)
NOT THE USUAL TYPE OF "HIT"
25 May 2003
The basic plot of this film is fairly ordinary and the pace not exactly fast - anyone wanting non-stop Tarantino-style action may be disappointed. Yes, the film does contain violence but in between there are quieter moments where the characters are given time to reflect
Although each character is a stereotype and made to think and act accordingly, the unfolding chain of events forces each one (albeit briefly) to re-think and
re-evaluate his place in the scheme of things. It never gets too deep and meaningful (you sometimes get the impression it was supposed to), but it's refreshing to see characters normally shown as one-dimensional having fears, doubts and (sometimes!) even genuine human reactions.
The mixture of "gangsters on the run" and introspection would limit this films' appeal somewhat but it's a nice change from the normal action film . A word too for the great acting from the wonderfully eclectic cast - all strong character actors, contributing greatly to appeal of this movie.
- not on the lyrics of "Like A Virgin", but on their lives, their illusions, and the hand that fate has dealt them.
Although each character is a stereotype and made to think and act accordingly, the unfolding chain of events forces each one (albeit briefly) to re-think and
re-evaluate his place in the scheme of things. It never gets too deep and meaningful (you sometimes get the impression it was supposed to), but it's refreshing to see characters normally shown as one-dimensional having fears, doubts and (sometimes!) even genuine human reactions.
The mixture of "gangsters on the run" and introspection would limit this films' appeal somewhat but it's a nice change from the normal action film . A word too for the great acting from the wonderfully eclectic cast - all strong character actors, contributing greatly to appeal of this movie.
Puberty Blues
(1981)
HAS SOME MERIT
11 March 2003
Unintentionally hilarious? Well sometimes yes, but it's also a film that deserves to be more than just "forgotten" Why? because it depicts, in a fairly accurate manner, a slice of Australian culture from the 1970's. Based on the book of the same name by Kathy Lette & Gabrielle Carey, it's the story of two teenage girls growing up near the beachside suburb of Cronulla. Watching the film today, you wish that the characters weren't so one-dimensional, and that a more balanced view of society wasn't shown, but this is the girls' story & it's told from their perspective. Anyone who lived near a beach or even just went to school in Australia around that time can surely recognise some of the scenes depicted. Other people may be merely baffled however, as films with a strong cultural relevance sometimes have little or no meaning to outsiders. Good or bad though, this is not an Australian film to simply dismissed.
Evil Senses
(1986)
QUIET THRILLER
5 March 2003
I bought this video knowing nothing about it, only that the cover compared it to 9 1/2 weeks (why I'm not sure!). The version I watched was dubbed in English, usually something which I can't stand, but in this case it was fairly well done and did not distract from the picture. I found the film itself quite enjoyable, well directed and very nicely photographed. There's sex and violence but much less than you would find in a similar American production (Basic Instinct, for example). The film really just boils down to a cat-and-mouse game (no pun intended) between the two main characters (which intensifies as the film progresses). If you demand action all the way through a film you probably won't enjoy this, but if you have an empathy with "world movies", you may find it to your liking.
Endless Night
(I) (1972)
worth seeking out
26 February 2003
The is a film that has always stuck in my mind. I've just watched it again (after picking it up on video for $1.95!) It has a Hitchcock flavour about it so anyone expecting a "Murder on the Orient Express" type mystery might be disappointed. It's not a horror movie either (as the picture on the DVD seems to suggest) but a brooding (& fairly low-key) thriller which has an underlying feel of unease about it. You know something is going to happen but are left in the dark as to what. It gives away nothing until the very end (which is is well worth waiting for). It's enjoyable to watch a second time too because there are clues (and red herrings) thrown in along the way which you may not have noticed first time round. Your perceptions will have also shifted (like the floor at Gypsy's Acre) and characters and events start appearing in a new light, taking on new meanings.
Nude for Satan
(1974)
CERTAINLY STRANGE!
9 February 2003
Yes, this is certainly a strange movie, with enough bizarre goings-on to make your head spin. Plenty of fun to watch though, and of course something of a "cult-classic". When we watched it recently my girlfriend was slightly miffed though, because none of the men ended up getting "Nude for Satan", only the women!
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