I watched it again
I had downloaded it, but in watching it I decided I needed the DVD remaster in my collection. Another attraction was the audio commentary by Jack Nicholson, and that's what I watched again last evening. It's a real treasure to have Old Jack recounting anecdotes about the filming, about the inscrutable director, about the style and photography, all the journeying from location to location, and the other actors, especially Maria Schneider. I'm coming to the conclusion it may be one of Antonioni's best. It's more concentrated and makes less (distracting) noise than 'Blow Up', although I love that one too. I ordered 'Beyond the Clouds', also, which is a fitting and very literary final film from The Master (Wenders help'd), in spite of a typically hammy performance from Malkovich. Other performances are excellent, especially Inès Sastre and Irene Jacob.
I also watched the above film. It's a wonderful and compelling piece of hokum, and I found Daniel Day-Lewis' performance mesmerising and utterly repulsive all at once. I'm tempted to ask just how much of a story there is to it - all is in the sets, the continuity of Dan's (oscar-winning) magnetism and the photography. I wonder if the word which best describes the writing is 'transparent' or 'non-existent'.
This morning I've watched a 1982 Godard film called 'Passion' and starring Isabelle Huppert, Michel Picoli and Hannah Schygulla. I know Godard is full of excesses and sins, but he pushes my (pretentious, art-house) buttons.
Nice chat with the nurse this morning, she stayed for a cup of tea. I wasn't ready when she came. I had a disturbed night, woke up late and was watching Godard when she arrived.
More films today, then. I think they're giving me ideas for texts to compose into songs. I'm too old (now) to write frothy stuff - I feel the obligation to pour my heart and soul into what I do these days. I want it to be true, or if it's lies and self-deception I want it to own-up to being so.
Later ...