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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
With the new, less invasive commenting options, I hope to hear from any of you that have seen these movies and have opinions of your own.
The Science of Sleep
Director: Michel Gondry
Possum’s Grade: A-
With The Science of Sleep, director Michel Gondry (Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) breaks away from his previous collaborator, Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) and ably writes a beautiful screenplay that is equally as schizophrenic as anything Kaufman could have imagined, if not more so.
Spain’s Gael Garcia Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries, Bad Education) proves as he interprets Gondry’s vision that he is the best young actor working in cinema today.
Gondry presents us with a world in which it is difficult to distinguish between dream and reality. In fact, this entire movie is like a dream and the ending is like being suddenly awaken and left with too many unanswered questions.
Marie Antoinette
Director: Sofia Coppola
Possum’s Grade: A
I’m not sure what I can add to the debate over this movie. At Cannes it was booed by the predominantly European crowd. A.O. Scott of the New York Times raved about it like few films that I’ve read his take on. Everyone else seems to fall somewhere in between. Personally, I feel closer to Scott than the French.
I understand why the French hate it. In much the same way that Coppola pokes fun at Tokyo in Lost in Translation, she is poking fun at France in Marie Antoinette. Not to mention the fact that she is glorifying a monarchy that they are likely none to proud of. In an early scene where Marie Antoinette is first being introduced to her role as dauphin of France she is greeted by a chorus of women of the palace each there to help her dress in the morning. Exasperated, she laughs and comments, “this is ridiculous.” Taken aback, her maiden responds, “this is Versailles.” In the end, Marie Antoinette (played a bit unevenly by Kirsten Dunst) is let off fairly easily. Coppola seems to glamorize a figure that history has vilified.
But, ultimately, that is not the point of this movie. Marie Antoinette, more than an historical period piece, is a visual feast. The fast-paced editing, the cakes and goodies, the champagne and the post-punk soundtrack serve to distract the audience from what is going on outside the palace. It isn’t until the final 20 minutes of the movie that the rising revolution is even acknowledged. And in this respect Marie Antoinette becomes supremely relevant as we witness a culture that is too often distracted by celebrity culture to pay attention to what is going on around us. Marie Antoinette becomes a Paris Hilton-like character that is far more appealing to look at than the French Revolution or whatever political mess we face today.
Three Times
Director: Hou Hsiao Hsien
Possum's Grade: C+
Art School Confidential
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Possum's Grade: C
The Prestige
Director: Christoper Nolan
Possum's Grade: B
I don't have a full review of this movie because to say anything is to give it away. But I still recommend it as a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
Possible coming reviews:
In Theatres: Volver, Stranger Than Fiction, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Running With Scissors
DVD: American Dreamz, Down in the Valley, The Break-Up, Sketches of Frank Gehry
The Science of Sleep
Director: Michel Gondry
Possum’s Grade: A-
With The Science of Sleep, director Michel Gondry (Dave Chappelle’s Block Party, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) breaks away from his previous collaborator, Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich) and ably writes a beautiful screenplay that is equally as schizophrenic as anything Kaufman could have imagined, if not more so.
Spain’s Gael Garcia Bernal (Motorcycle Diaries, Bad Education) proves as he interprets Gondry’s vision that he is the best young actor working in cinema today.
Gondry presents us with a world in which it is difficult to distinguish between dream and reality. In fact, this entire movie is like a dream and the ending is like being suddenly awaken and left with too many unanswered questions.
Marie Antoinette
Director: Sofia Coppola
Possum’s Grade: A
I’m not sure what I can add to the debate over this movie. At Cannes it was booed by the predominantly European crowd. A.O. Scott of the New York Times raved about it like few films that I’ve read his take on. Everyone else seems to fall somewhere in between. Personally, I feel closer to Scott than the French.
I understand why the French hate it. In much the same way that Coppola pokes fun at Tokyo in Lost in Translation, she is poking fun at France in Marie Antoinette. Not to mention the fact that she is glorifying a monarchy that they are likely none to proud of. In an early scene where Marie Antoinette is first being introduced to her role as dauphin of France she is greeted by a chorus of women of the palace each there to help her dress in the morning. Exasperated, she laughs and comments, “this is ridiculous.” Taken aback, her maiden responds, “this is Versailles.” In the end, Marie Antoinette (played a bit unevenly by Kirsten Dunst) is let off fairly easily. Coppola seems to glamorize a figure that history has vilified.
But, ultimately, that is not the point of this movie. Marie Antoinette, more than an historical period piece, is a visual feast. The fast-paced editing, the cakes and goodies, the champagne and the post-punk soundtrack serve to distract the audience from what is going on outside the palace. It isn’t until the final 20 minutes of the movie that the rising revolution is even acknowledged. And in this respect Marie Antoinette becomes supremely relevant as we witness a culture that is too often distracted by celebrity culture to pay attention to what is going on around us. Marie Antoinette becomes a Paris Hilton-like character that is far more appealing to look at than the French Revolution or whatever political mess we face today.
Three Times
Director: Hou Hsiao Hsien
Possum's Grade: C+
Art School Confidential
Director: Terry Zwigoff
Possum's Grade: C
The Prestige
Director: Christoper Nolan
Possum's Grade: B
I don't have a full review of this movie because to say anything is to give it away. But I still recommend it as a fun way to spend a couple of hours.
Possible coming reviews:
In Theatres: Volver, Stranger Than Fiction, Borat: Cultural Learnings of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, Running With Scissors
DVD: American Dreamz, Down in the Valley, The Break-Up, Sketches of Frank Gehry
Friday, October 27, 2006
NEW COMMENTING OPTION!!!
So people were freaking out because of the invasive pop-up asking for a password generated by the tag board. Having no idea what even my own password was, I kicked the whole thing out the window and opted for the traditional COMMENT link at the bottom of the post.
From now on if you would like to leave an enlightened message, tell me I'm an idiot or post SPAM all you need to do is click on the COMMENT link at the end of each post.
I will post some more movie grades very soon, and if I can get my act together I might even write a full review of one or two of them.
So people were freaking out because of the invasive pop-up asking for a password generated by the tag board. Having no idea what even my own password was, I kicked the whole thing out the window and opted for the traditional COMMENT link at the bottom of the post.
From now on if you would like to leave an enlightened message, tell me I'm an idiot or post SPAM all you need to do is click on the COMMENT link at the end of each post.
I will post some more movie grades very soon, and if I can get my act together I might even write a full review of one or two of them.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
It's been my busy time of year so I haven't had time to write proper reviews of the handful of movies that I have watched recently. However, I did want to offer grades and/or a quick comment on a few of them.
Idlewild
Possum's Grade: B
Inside Man
Possum's Grade: C
I expected more from this movie, but ultimately it was no better than 16 Blocks. Entertaining, but not much more.
Brick
Possum's Grade: C-
After the guys at www.filmspotting.net dubbed this the best movie of the year so far a month or so back I was completely disappointed in watching it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt of Third Rock From the Sun fame just couldn't pull off the fast-talking, noir dialogue of this not-as-clever-as-it-thinks-it-is script.
The Departed
Possum's Grade: A+
I should write a full review on this one, but I just haven't had the time. I really believe that this will be the movie that most people remember when looking back at the movies from 2000-2006.
Friends With Money
Possum's Grade: B-
Possible coming reviews:
Theatre: The Science of Sleep, Babel, Marie Antoinette
DVD: La Mujer de Mi Hermano, Three Times, Find Me Guilty
Idlewild
Possum's Grade: B
Inside Man
Possum's Grade: C
I expected more from this movie, but ultimately it was no better than 16 Blocks. Entertaining, but not much more.
Brick
Possum's Grade: C-
After the guys at www.filmspotting.net dubbed this the best movie of the year so far a month or so back I was completely disappointed in watching it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt of Third Rock From the Sun fame just couldn't pull off the fast-talking, noir dialogue of this not-as-clever-as-it-thinks-it-is script.
The Departed
Possum's Grade: A+
I should write a full review on this one, but I just haven't had the time. I really believe that this will be the movie that most people remember when looking back at the movies from 2000-2006.
Friends With Money
Possum's Grade: B-
Possible coming reviews:
Theatre: The Science of Sleep, Babel, Marie Antoinette
DVD: La Mujer de Mi Hermano, Three Times, Find Me Guilty
