ANTHONY ZIMMER

5/9/2012

 
The original that The Tourist  was remade from. French thriller / romance: just okay.
 
Romance, poetry, biopic period piece, Goethe: yes.
http://www.younggoetheinlove.com/
 
Bleak Norwegian drama about a 1915 boys reformatory / prison; Bastoy Residential School, staring Stellan Skarsgard and a cast of fine young lads. Strong nautical theme, shifting P.O.V..
http://www.bastoy.no/
 
Louis Malle's tale of a young man, casually rejected by the French Resisitence to German Occupation, who quickly becomes a member of the fascist lackeys; Milice, a paramilitary force, who used torture and murder to round-up Jews and Resistence members. The young lout, Lucien, imposes himself on the family of a Jewish woman whom we falls in love with. Interesting look at a unlikeable main character, and the era. Was controversial at the time 'cause it took the POV of the Fascist. Won the Oscar for best foreign film:1975.
http://www.criterion.com/films/776-lacombe-lucien
 
Louis Malle’s bloated coming of age tale about a young mama's boy and his jerk brothers. Okay 'cause it's French, set in the '50s and Lea Massari is in it.  
http://www.criterion.com/films/775-murmur-of-the-heart

LONDON RIVER

3/28/2012

 
Two parents from different backgrounds search for their children in the aftermath of London's 2005 terrorist bombing. Brenda Blethyn is awesome, as usual. Quiet, beautiful film.
http://www.londonrivermovie.com/

OUTRAGE (2010)

3/18/2012

 
"Beat" Takeshi Kitano returns to hardcore yakuza action: lots of violence and brutality. Not a great film but worth it if you love his messed-up face, gangsters and imaginative murders.

THE SKIN I LIVE IN

3/13/2012

 
Almodóvar reunites with Banderas, trades camp for lightweight horror, and sticks with themes of betrayal and sexual identity. Looks and sounds great, but the story is so far-out, and too many rapes. Weird, violent. Didn't love it, but can't stop thinking about it.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/theskinilivein/

SENNA

3/6/2012

 
Great movie, probably the most exciting documentary: ever. Don't need to love cars, or racing to appreciate the life of Brazilian Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. Can't wait to see it again!
http://www.sennamovie.com/

THE GUARD

2/25/2012

 
Irish policeman Brendan Gleeson and FBI agent (not a profiler) Don Cheadle in a dark, funny, film with loads of literary nods. Loved it!
http://www.sonyclassics.com/theguard/