info-1405 Reviews

Sunday Night: Don't Shoot the Composer (1966) Season 1, Episode 13

A Forgotten Gem

[9/10 · 11 October 2023]

This 50-minute documentary is an outstanding testimony of Georges Delerue's work in the sixties, probably his most creative period. One can recognize the mischievous Ken Russel's touch from the mundane opening sequence which is scored by Delerue as typical film noir sequence in order to demonstrate the power of his music. The film features a great deal of unpublished music including some awesome "sons et lumières" excerpts performed live in a studio by symphony orchestra and broad chorus. Delerue himself can be seen at the baton, rehearsing at the piano and having fun with his first wife and one of two daughters.

I had the opportunity to watch this movie thanks to a private contact and can't understand why it is still not available for general audience at this time.

Pêcheur d'Islande (1959)

Misleading adaptation but still worthy

[7/10 · 23 October 2022]

This movie took only a few elements from Loti's novel and therefore might be disappointing for people who expect a faithful adaptation. It doesn't prevent "Pêcheur d'Islande" to be a fine, popular movie without a dull moment. The cinematography by Raoul Coutard - who worked extensively with Jean-Luc Godard - is a pleasure to watch, the soundtrack by the underrated composer Louiguy is quite enjoyable and, most of all, all the actors are convincing enough, especially the main parts played by Jean-Claude Pascal, veteran Charles Vanel and the young Juliette Mayniel. If you understand a little French don't miss it as it is available on YouTube, at least at the time I'm writing this review.

Call Me by Your Name (2017)

Smoky business

[2/10 · 16 January 2022]

The first 40 minutes of this very slow paced flick were interesting enough but then everything began to suck. Elio's behavior especially becomes quite ridiculous. Notably nearly all character start to smoke as if they were in long commercial for the tobacco industry, which have most probably provide half of the movie's budget following a common sponsorship practice.

Les deux Fragonard (1989)

A dark tale ahead of its time

[8/10 · 9 August 2021]

Philippe Le Guay's long feature debut, Les Deux Fragonard, benefited from significant enough means to provide a good recreation of the eighteenth century setting, during the reign of Louis XV. With his co-writer Jérôme Tonnerre, Le Guay was freely inspired by the life of Jean-Honoré Fragonard, endowing him with a cousin who turns out to be also an artist but in a very different field. The first one (Joachim de Almeida) is a fashion painter and womanizer, which leads him to a life of pleasure, while Cyprien (Robin Renucci) is an anatomist attracted to death and fascinated by the mechanics of the human body, which he likes to dissect using stolen corpses.

Add to this a beautiful washerwoman, Marianne (Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu), who has become a model for Jean-Honoré Fragonard and a sombre aristocrat (Sami Frey) whose main interest is to put her under the scalpel of the Cyprien Fragonard, and you have all the ingredients of a gothic tale tinged with poetry and black humour.

One of the major assets of the movie is the gorgeous score by Jorge Arriagada. The composer managed to exploit the richness of the contrasts between two worlds of light and shadow, of springy jubilation and existential torment, delivering a wide variety of entrancing themes. Arriagada would resume his collaboration with Le Guay for three other movies, notably The Women on the 6th Floor and Bicycling with Molière.

Les Deux Fragonard was not very successful back in 1989. Philippe Le Guay had made a film a little ahead of its time, showing the fascination of the crowd for traveling exhibitions of flayed human bodies, preserved thanks to recent advances in science. Perceptions have changed and there is a good chance that this original movie can be better understood and appreciated today.

Hilda Crane (1956)

Too low-rated psychological period drama but...

[7/10 · 1 June 2021]

I am surprised to read so many bad reviews of this movie on IMDd after having watched the restored version in glorious Technicolor and CinemaScope. Jean Simmons shines as usual and most of the secondary characters deliver a more than satisfying performance. Editing, cinematography and direction are fine.

So I agree with the former review untitled "Feverish melodrama, fifties malaise", except for one important point: I found the David Raksin score to be extremely annoying in the numerous intimate scenes with dialogue, undermining them with strings. It's not a matter of using dissonant music, rather a too old fashioned, and sirupy approach. Except for the opening titles and a few short dynamic passages, Raksin did a lousy job which actually deserves an otherwise very good film.

Night Magic (1985)

Would greatly benefit from a proper DVD reissue

[8/10 · 30 December 2019]

Lewis Furey's Night Magic was ahead of its time and might be more in fashion and appealing for today's audience. The story co-written by Leonard Cohen and Furey is a kind of dreamy fairy tale for teenagers and adults, dealing with excessive artistic ambition, love and angelic creatures. The music is excellent throughout but sounds muffled in the movie mix because of technical and budget limitations. Carole Laure especially never looked and sang more beautifully. All in all Night Magic would greatly benefit from a proper DVD release with a remastered sound in stereo, completed with some bonus.

A View from the Bridge (1962)

A decent DVD release please !

[9/10 · 18 December 2019]

I just saw this excellent movie in a crappy DVD transfer, actually a DVD-R. It is also available on YouTube. As far as I can see it's the only version available in English at this time and there is no one in French although the movie was apparently shot also in French for the European market.

The setting of the Arthur Miller play in the docks may be surprising at first but it works, allowing parts of the story to take place in outdoors. One can recognize the director's legendary ability with the comedians. They look and sound so naturel that you could believe they have never played another role in their career. The dramatic tension reaches a peek in the third part of the movie. I was riveted to my TV set despite, again, the lousy quality of the support.

The Wanderer (1967)

Great movie, cheap DVD

[8/10 · 25 November 2017]

Personally, I have never been able to go through the novel by Alain-Fournier, despite I tried many times in the last five decades, borrowing the book from public libraries in the different locations I lived. On the other hand, I could watch and enjoy the whole 1967 Albicocco's movie when I was a youngster, and I still can do it today thanks to the DVD release. So this first screen adaptation must be quite effective, and it is a faithful one apparently.

Not only the intricate story becomes much more easy to understand ; the daring cinematography, the swift editing, the sensitive music score and of course the performers – most of them being fresh newcomers – are compelling. Watching this timeless movie is immersing ourselves in a dreamy world and becoming acquainted with characters who are closely related to the misty landscapes of Sologne. A unique and fascinating experience.

At the time when I am writing this review, what prevents this version of Le grand Meaulnes to become more popular outside France is the lack of English subtitles of the DVD release. It would also have deserved more consistent and various extras in both languages. Sadly French cinematic producers are often cheap and unambitious when time comes to reissue their best achievements.

Real Lies (2014)

An underrated clever entertainment

[7/10 · 6 March 2016]

I didn't expect much from LE VRAI DU FAUX considering the lack of positive feedback from the critics and the viewers as well, at least on the IMDb. Moreover, I didn't really enjoy some of previous box office hits by director Emile Gaudreault.

So what a nice surprise to discover a Quebec movie which is actually a comedy- drama, offering a perfect balance between entertainment and psychological insight. I laughed often but also felt concerned with the more serious issues of this story about a successful filmmaker who want to redeem himself by helping a soldier suffering from a post-trauma syndrome. The acting, the cinematography, the editing (pacing) and all the other technical and artistic components of the movie are top-notch. Stephane Rousseau proves again that he is much more than a brilliant stand-up comic. Julie Le Breton is perfect as the psychologist who cares for her patient while she has to face her own personal problems. Guylaine Tremblay is amazingly funny and touching at times as the tormented mother.

All in all I spent a real good time watching LE VRAI DU FAUX and do not hesitate to recommend it to everyone who is familiar enough with Quebec language and cultural context.

A Butterfly Kiss (2011)

Better than expected but...

[7/10 · 21 September 2014]

I didn't expect this movie to be so good considering the average rating on IMDb. UN BAISER PAPILLON is a sweet and touching picture, very well made. It is quite enjoyable if your understand French or have access to a good subtitled version. You might even say it is a feel-good story despite the numerous conflicts showing up in the family involved here, in addition to the lethal disease of the main character.

My only problem is with the use of Angelo Badalamenti's folk-rooted music from a the very successful American movie, A STRAIGHT STORY, along with many classical excerpts from a few Vivaldi's concertos and pop songs. You have the feeling that the director used the Badalamenti's stuff as the main theme to temp-track her flick and that she finally decided to license it. A bit lazy solution, or perhaps a matter of budget restrictions, because I am sure there are numerous French composers who could have provided and equally fine original score, and perhaps a more appropriate one.