Viewing recap for August

Locke (2013)
All takes place in one night, with Tom Hardy character talking to people over the phone in his car. Doesn’t sound that fascinating, but was told in a suspenseful way. His accent seemed forced though, as if he was behaving like someone older.
Favorite quote:
“You’re the complete opposite to me, all the things I love mean absolutely zero to you”
Rating 8/10

Biutiful (2010)
Nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, and Javier Bardem's central performance also received an oscar nomination. Set in the seedy underworld of Barcelona, the story involves people who make money in illegal ways, bribing and running from the police, and so on. Bardem is not a well man, and his relationship with his girlfriend/wife is tumultuous. Their two children experience all this mayhem first hand. The story is slow-paced and takes a long time to get going, it's overlong and a little predictable, but does have its powerful moments. A film where you don't need to watch every second to get the gist of the story.
Rating 7/10

Almost Famous (2000)
I love the bus scene with the song Tiny Dancer, and love the compilation soundtrack, but I don’t see it as masterpiece as others do. While good, I’m hesitant to call it great. Granted the premise is interesting and it won awards. I’ve now seen both directors cut and theatrical versions but I just don’t get the fuss about this movie and find it quite overrated.
If you ask me, Say Anything (1989) and Vanilla Sky (2001) are more emotionally engaging movies.
Rating 7.5/10

Purple Rain (1984)
I agree with another reviewer that the soundtrack is too good for the movie. However I was impressed how the lyrics often fit with what’s happening in the film.
My favorite part is when Prince listens to father character play piano and the father says “No man, I don’t have to, that’s the difference between you and me” when Prince asks if he wrote the music. I don’t know if he in actual fact came from a dysfunctional family, those scenes feel autobiographical.
Fans have been trying to work out the meaning of "purple rain" for decades now. Some believe it’s about the end of the world, a theme Prince was interested in mid-80s. This quote from His Royal Badness suggests the apocalypse wasn’t far from his mind:
“When there’s blood in the sky - red and blue = purple.. purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god" guide you through the purple rain”
According to band mate Lisa Coleman, the song symbolises “a new beginning. Purple, the sky at dawn; rain, the cleansing factor"

Quotes from NME

Rating 6/10

Junebug (2005)
Amy Adams delivers a memorable performance as the socially undisciplined, but cute and lively farm girl. My favorite sequence is when George and his new girlfriend Madeline arrive at the house, and Ashley (Amy Adams) asks her all kinds of awkward questions. I didn’t think the rest of the movie was as strong as that early sequence. The ending was quite powerful and thought-provoking.
While uneven in the middle part, I'd still call it one of the better independent films of recent years.
Rating 7.5/10

American History X (1998)

The part in prison struck me as the most powerful. The story is a nuanced depiction of racism, neo-nazism and hatred, and not just showing us evil Nazis. The moral of the story is simple, yet very impactful.

Rating 8.5/10

Whale Rider (2002)
I didn’t think the first hour was that interesting, but the last part is unforgettable and very moving, especially when those whales are stranded on the beach and what happens afterwards. The female lead is the youngest ever to be nominated for Best Actress.
Rating 7/10

Traffic (2000)
Very well-paced, like a thriller, never bored for a second by the multiple stories. Characters feel very authentic, although Michael Douglas segment is quite heavy-handed in the way it plays out.
Rating 8/10

Burn After Reading (2009)

Brad Pitt is very funny in this one. I would have liked the film even more if the profanity was less. The ending scene didn’t need to be so violent, especially for a comedy.

I liked how The Coen’s made fun of how obsessed people are nowadays with fitness and their appearance, it's a good topic for some laughs.

Rating 7/10

A Shot In The Dark (1964)
Pink Panther sequel directed by Blake Edwards A highlight is the billiard table sequence, also the way Inspector Clouseau (Peter Sellers) is arrested is amusing. Clouseau is funny, but even funnier to me is his boss Charles Dreyfus (Herbert Lom)
Favorite quote: ”Give me ten men like Clouseau and I could destroy the world”
Rating 7.5/10

Subway (1985)
Directed by Luc Besson. The film is atmospheric and about 75% is filmed in the underground Paris metro, I would say it’s more about the setting than the plot. Benefits by a couple of exiting chase sequences. The ending is strong, but there’s hardly any characterization. The romance between Christopher Lambert and Isabelle Adjani was not that believable, which felt forced, even though they are both rebels/outsiders. I was never bored, though it did feel like fluff. Style over substance.
Rating 6/10

Mystic River (2003)
Retwatch. Very well-acted. Like Zodiac, the story is pretty much solved by the end of the film, and like rewatching Zodiac, less ambiguous than I remember. Still very very good, but not great. The filmmakers in both cases are too eager to spoon-feed the audience solutions to the mystery.
Rating 8/10

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010)
A couple of strong scenes, when the ghosts visit them by the table, and the waterfall scene when she looks into the water and sees a more beautiful version of herself is a highlight too. We also see a cave which glows in the dark and a huge illuminated birthday cake. While beautiful on the eye, the film has too many boring passages, and lack a sense of direction.
Rating 6/10

Adaptation (2002)
Nicolas Cage does a good job playing twins. I love how there is enthusiasm for an original script, and mocks how his less talented brother writes a script full of clichés and the studio pay good money for safe formulaic stuff. Both a celebration of originality and a comment on how studio excutives sometimes don’t know what is good or bad. I also like the journeys the characters go on, and one of the smarter movies from Hollywood.
Rating 8/10

Monsieur Verdoux  (1947)
A captivating story starring Charlie Chaplin as a serial killer, you can’t help watching even though he is a monster. However I almost did turn off the film when he attempts to poison that poor girl. There are unrealistic aspects such as characters speaking English in France, and wives not checking up on what their husband does for a living, which was a bit implausible considering the number of deceptions going on.
Rating 8/10

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)
Won the Palme d’Or and nominated for 5 Oscars. A gimmicky musical where every line of dialogue is sung by the characters. The wallpaper in the umbrella shop and the women’s house is very colorful, as is the alleyway.
Rating 8/10

Frantic (1988)
A tense kidnapping thriller set in Paris with Harrison Ford. Polanski at his most mainstream. Good, but not particularly memorable. The final scene is too similar to a Bond movie from the 80s.
Rating 7/10 

The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

I don’t have a lot to say, other than the performances, soundtrack, and visual style are top notch. My favorite scene is when Royal takes the kids out for a fun day. The actual story isn’t that great, and for me the weakest part of the film.

Rating 8/10

Trading Places (1983)

How it will end is too predictable. Eddie Murphy was funnier in other films. Surprised at the racist moments.

For me, the only laugh-out-loud moment was the jacuzzi scene with Eddie Murphy.

Rating 6/10

Fame (1980) 
Directed by Alan Parker, who is a director I admire. The spontaneous dance sequences in the cafeteria and in the street are so full of life that you can’t help letting the positivity effect you.
An entertaining coming of age drama/musical, but also full of clichés.
Rating 7/10

Rules of the Game (1939)

A rather dull watch. For me, an overrated classic. Granted the dialogue has its moments, but I felt nothing for these characters. We follow members of upper-class French society and their servants just before the beginning of World War II, showing their moral callousness on the eve of impending destruction. Depicting “people, who might have had an influence in shaping the world, but did nothing to prevent an advance of Fascism; some of whom actually welcomed it". 

The rabbit hunt scene is often compared to the senseless death that occurs during war; Renoir said he wanted to show a certain class of people killing for no reason. Renoir himself had never killed an animal and called hunting "an abominable exercise in cruelty"

Rating 6/10

Lifeboat (1944)

A group of people are stuck in a lifeboat. In the opening credits their ship sinks. Well-acted and technically impressive. A rather one-sided portrayal of the Germans. Hitchcock was very pro-allies.

Rating 7.5

Enen (aka Case Unknown) (2009)
Under-appreciated Polish drama, directed by Feliks Falk. Raises questions about how mental patients should be treated, what is the best way to recovery, and ethical questions about locking someone up and their right to free will. Open to debate if the doctor (main character) is brave or reckless in attempting to advance his career by jeopardizing his family and digging into old wounds.
The filmmaking style is quite bland and unremarkable, so it’s mainly for the story and performances you should watch.
Rating 8/10

Tillie and Gus (1933)

Fun to see WC Fields (Augustus) have a side-kick in the form of his ex-wife (Tillie). The card game on the train is a great little scene. The paint mixing part was hilarious, following instructions from the radio.

However the dice throwing scene in China doesn’t make sense, as Tillie knows the dice are doctored with, yet she still goes ahead.

“Passing years have slowed you on the draw, my little cricketie”

Rating 8/10

You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man (1939)

Comedy starring W.C. Fields. Not as funny as his best comedies. Has its moments, my favorite scene is near the end when he talks about snakes at the party.

Rating 6/10

Six of a Kind (1934)

Ensemble comedy. The best parts are with WC Fields, who plays pool, acts as a salesman, and 

the big dog in the car was also pretty funny.

Favorite quote “Are you busy? About as busy as a pickpocket in a nudist colony”

Rating 5.5/10

Poppy (1936)

WC Fields comedy.

The guy who wanted to return five bottles was my favorite character. The croquet scene was probably the highlight.

Rating 6/10

Have you watched any of the above films? Agree or disagree? As always, comments are welcome