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 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/ "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.
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/ 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/ 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/ |