Filmage
Charlie Wilson’s War is one of the smartest, wittiest and good-hearted movies about politics I have seen. It is written by Aaron Sorkin, always a great start. The direction is assured, the acting excellent (Phillip Seymour Hoffman steals every scene he is in). The film is about how a minor Congressmen (Tom Hanks), a maverick CIA agent (Hoffman) and a Texan socialite (Julie Roberts) organised to fund the largest covert war in history - the American-Israeli-Egyptian-Saudi-Pakistani support for the Afghan muhajideen which handed the Red Army its only unambiguously lost war. Two quotes from Charlie Wilson himself sum things up. One about the movie itself: Anything I might have objected to was provable. And the quote which ends the movie: We fucked up the endgame. A great watch.
The Promise is a sumptuous fairy tale, a strikingly beautiful film. At first, one is not quite sure what the film is trying to be, but once it establishes that it is very much a fairy-tale, I found myself very engaged by the characters.
Stardust is a delightful adult fairytale. Enjoyed it better than the book.
Hancock is, I suspect, too clever for what the audience probably expected.
Eastern Promises is one of the more powerful gangster movies I have seen.
Daywatch I found a bit too cryptic to entirely enjoy. Having seen it and Nightwatch in the wrong order did not help.
In Love With Hitler is a documentary based around Eva Braun’s home movies. The narration lays it on a little thick at times, but the film is an effective - and chilling - rendition of the social life of Hitler and the Nazi elite appropriately interspersed with war footage. Also included is a Frank Capra film Your Job in Germany directed at American troops in occupied Germany. The notion that Germans had a penchant for aggression and conquest that could only be stopped if Americans stayed on guard is strongly conveyed. Soldiers were to be correct, distant and suspicious in their behaviour towards Germans. Very much a period piece.
Peaceful Warrior is a rather nice rendition of Dan Millman’s novel. Like, I suspect, many people, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior was my first introduction to (what I now recognise as) Buddhist concepts of psychology and enlightenment. I didn’t really “get it” at the time, but it helped Epstein’s books make sense to me years later. The acting, especially from the leads, is very good. A fine, solid, movie.
Summer Storm is a very nicely realised coming-out film from Germany. So nicely realised I found some of it excruciating to watch since it rang so true. When one sees the director introducing the film (his second feature), he seems about the same age as his characters and it is no surprise that the film is significantly autobiographical. Most of the film takes place around a lake where various rowing teams are camping in the lead up to a big competition. So, between German countryside and fit rowers (boys and girls), the cinematography (which is excellent) has plenty to work with. Both acting and script are excellent, a very human story very well told.
Shock to the System is a sweet gay take on the private detective crime thriller.
Balls is a nice little country-boy-finds-himself movie. It is a bit by-the-numbers but has some lovely touches. The affection for the game of soccer also shines through.
Big Eden is a lovely film about going home and being emotionally straight-jacketed. It is also an utter fairy tale in its rendition of a completely accepting Montana small town but the characters are very real.
Eating Out is a little patchy, with a weakish start, but has very funny moments and a sweetly (if somewhat kinky) romantic core.
Another Gay Movie is a silly movie and proud of it. The film is patchy, but some of the sequences are hilarious - particularly the sequences with the horny cute bottom boy being embarrassed by his overly supportive father. Besides, teen movies are made to be parodied. (My favourite line was all Catholics are bottoms though the exchange:
maybe I should give it up and become a priest.
Then you will finally get laid
works too.) There is a charming and funny interview with the main star here.
The Lair is trash and proud of it. Melodramatic, gay vampire witches trash. Lines like what are you going to do when the blood hits the fan? and they might be gay vampire witches hiding at the club express all you need to know. The use of a gay porn actor as the Sheriff is just the right touch.
The Promise is a sumptuous fairy tale, a strikingly beautiful film. At first, one is not quite sure what the film is trying to be, but once it establishes that it is very much a fairy-tale, I found myself very engaged by the characters.
Stardust is a delightful adult fairytale. Enjoyed it better than the book.
Hancock is, I suspect, too clever for what the audience probably expected.
Eastern Promises is one of the more powerful gangster movies I have seen.
Daywatch I found a bit too cryptic to entirely enjoy. Having seen it and Nightwatch in the wrong order did not help.
In Love With Hitler is a documentary based around Eva Braun’s home movies. The narration lays it on a little thick at times, but the film is an effective - and chilling - rendition of the social life of Hitler and the Nazi elite appropriately interspersed with war footage. Also included is a Frank Capra film Your Job in Germany directed at American troops in occupied Germany. The notion that Germans had a penchant for aggression and conquest that could only be stopped if Americans stayed on guard is strongly conveyed. Soldiers were to be correct, distant and suspicious in their behaviour towards Germans. Very much a period piece.
Peaceful Warrior is a rather nice rendition of Dan Millman’s novel. Like, I suspect, many people, The Way of the Peaceful Warrior was my first introduction to (what I now recognise as) Buddhist concepts of psychology and enlightenment. I didn’t really “get it” at the time, but it helped Epstein’s books make sense to me years later. The acting, especially from the leads, is very good. A fine, solid, movie.
Summer Storm is a very nicely realised coming-out film from Germany. So nicely realised I found some of it excruciating to watch since it rang so true. When one sees the director introducing the film (his second feature), he seems about the same age as his characters and it is no surprise that the film is significantly autobiographical. Most of the film takes place around a lake where various rowing teams are camping in the lead up to a big competition. So, between German countryside and fit rowers (boys and girls), the cinematography (which is excellent) has plenty to work with. Both acting and script are excellent, a very human story very well told.
Shock to the System is a sweet gay take on the private detective crime thriller.
Balls is a nice little country-boy-finds-himself movie. It is a bit by-the-numbers but has some lovely touches. The affection for the game of soccer also shines through.
Big Eden is a lovely film about going home and being emotionally straight-jacketed. It is also an utter fairy tale in its rendition of a completely accepting Montana small town but the characters are very real.
Eating Out is a little patchy, with a weakish start, but has very funny moments and a sweetly (if somewhat kinky) romantic core.
Another Gay Movie is a silly movie and proud of it. The film is patchy, but some of the sequences are hilarious - particularly the sequences with the horny cute bottom boy being embarrassed by his overly supportive father. Besides, teen movies are made to be parodied. (My favourite line was all Catholics are bottoms though the exchange:
maybe I should give it up and become a priest.
Then you will finally get laid
works too.) There is a charming and funny interview with the main star here.
The Lair is trash and proud of it. Melodramatic, gay vampire witches trash. Lines like what are you going to do when the blood hits the fan? and they might be gay vampire witches hiding at the club express all you need to know. The use of a gay porn actor as the Sheriff is just the right touch.