THE SILENCE (1963)

4/19/2011

 
The final, and most challenging of Ingmar Bergman's Religion Trilogy on Criterion speaks more to a lack of spirituality than overt religiosity The cinematography is so outstanding that I can't take my eyes off a single frame, even if I don't really understand what's going on! Don't let the lack of dialogue in the first hour throw you: it pays off in the end. Love watching these actors...

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_Silence/60029947?trkid=496624#height1978
Official Site: http://www.criterion.com/films/570-the-silence
 
As a parent with two daughters, one occasionally coloratura soprano - esque, and the other who's the little darling that everybody loves, this mini-series was painful to watch. Todd Haynes gives the all-star cast a lovely setting, and pace, (languid). The story is relevant today and addresses the topics of familial love, attachment, and identity. The end surprised me as it's... never mind, just watch it on demand!

Official Site: http://www.hbo.com/mildred-pierce/index.html

IP MAN

4/17/2011

 
Now that Jackie Chan and Jet Li have retired from starring in martial art movies, Donnie Yen has carried on the classic Kung Fu tradition with the help of fight choreographer Sammo Hung. Heavy on Chinese national pride, authentic to the era, IP MAN, (Bruce Lee's Wing Chun Master) is loaded with great fight scenes, and a compelling story. Any doubts I had about Donnie Yen have been put to rest after seeing his Wing Chun skills. IP MAN 2; out on DVD this week: yeah!

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Ip_Man/70118799?trkid=496624#height2002
Offical Site: http://www.ipman-movie.com
 
Beautful example of Bergman eschewing the expressionism of his previous films. Natural lighting illuminates this stark, austere chamber drama featuring a tremendous performance by Harriet Andersson as a young woman slipping into mental illness, isolated on a island, surrounded by her father, brother and husband. Part of Bergman's religion triology from Criterion. The religious aspect is understated (finding God through the familial love) and not overt like Winter Light.

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Through_a_Glass_Darkly/60029946?trkid=496624#height2475
Official Site: http://www.criterion.com/films/568-through-a-glass-darkly

WHITE MATERIAL

4/14/2011

 
If you need all the facts and back story spelled out for you, and/or if you don't enjoy close-ups of the sides and backs of people's heads, and/or an ambiguous ending, then skip this one. If you like a story to be set in Africa, know some of the characters fate in the beginning, and appreciate a story unfolding without much structure or logic then you might value White Material.
Fine performance by Isabelle Huppert, and it's nice to see Christopher Lambert.

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/White_Material/70125545?trkid=496624#height2080
Official Site: http://www.ifcfilms.com/uncategorized/white-material

MARWENCOL

4/13/2011

 
Every once in a while a movie comes along that after I view it, I just want to bask in its gloriousness for a while before I talk or write about it. Marwencol has everything; story, characters, art. It even ties into my love for dolls and RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo TV.

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Marwencol/70134648?trkid=496624#height1080
Official Site: http://www.marwencol.com/
 
Hungarian Jews recount their experiences surviving the last days of the "Final Solution." Includes interviews of a Nazi death camp doctor and liberating U.S. Soldiers. Important to me personally because of my Hungarian heritage. How does this horror happen? One of the best films on the subject of the Holocaust: devastating.

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/The_Last_Days/21477429?trkid=496624#height1538
NYT review: http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9B06E3D81E38F936A35751C0A96F958260
 
Atypical Ingmar Bergman masterpiece. Gritty, (for Bergman) part of the religion trilogy recently released on Criterion. Features a captivating six minute close-up directed to the camera.

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Winter_Light/60029948?trkid=496624#height1739
Official Site: http://www.criterion.com/films/569-winter-light
 
Dark, funny, gay, prison bromance. Jim Carrey is so awesome, and pairing him with
Ewan McGregor was a brilliant idea. I'll have to read the book to fill in the details!

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/I_Love_You_Phillip_Morris/70112491?trkid=496624#height2018
Official Site: http://www.phillipmorrismovie.net/

MADE IN DAGENHAM

4/6/2011

 
Sally Hawkins serves up a dewy mash of vulnerability and toughness in this social drama set in 1968 UK. British Invasion pop rock and the art design authenticate this touching story of women working together to fight the bastards. Bob Hoskins and Miranda Richardson add a cuppa!

Netflix: http://movies.netflix.com/Movie/Made-in-Dagenham/70127238?trkid=1660#height1734
Official site: http://www.paramountpicturesintl.com/intl/uk/madeindagenham/