My summer class is almost over so I'll have more time to watch movies and crap. However, I'll be replacing that with work for a couple of weeks. Good times!
The Night of the Hunter (1955)
(Directed by Charles Laughton)
The Night of the Hunter feels timeless. Yeah, it's in black and white and set in the Depression (I think) but everything still holds up. From Robert Mitchum's wicked performance to the expressionistic visuals; everything works perfectly. We've come to know the plot well over the years. I could see where it was going from miles away but that's not really what's important. It's more about the absolute oddity of the execution. Think about the murder scene. The way that Robert Mitchum carries himself in that scene, it's straight up surreal. Think of the trek down the river. Pearl bursts out in a song so haunting that it's unsettling. As they go, the animals from either side come into the foreground to add to the weirdness. Or the way that Shelley Winter's hair flows in the water. It's hard to think this movie as a "classic" film since it does so many things differently than you'd expect but it really is a classic, regardless.
★★★★
The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
(Directed by Sylvain Chomet)
Wall-E (2008)
(Directed by Andrew Stanton)
★★★★
The Triplets of Belleville (2003)
(Directed by Sylvain Chomet)
The film's major merit is how freaking weird it is. Seriously, the stuff happening in this movie is so bizarre, its plot so outlandish that it all actually makes sense. Its images are so original that it really bears mention just for that. However, it's really fun just outside of that. Though I'm not sure to say what to say about it. It's got a great soundtrack, the animation is fantastic and... well, although it drags in parts, I can forgive it because it's so fun.
★★★1/2
★★★1/2
Wall-E (2008)
(Directed by Andrew Stanton)
Pixar once again strikes gold combining great storytelling with lots of emotion. The result is nothing but greatness. Wall-E and Eve are great, memorable characters and their dance in space is destined to be a filmspot nominee for "most kickass moment." The first 30 minutes are nothing if effective silent filmmaking. "Show, don't tell" and all that crap. The rest works as sly satire. It's not mean-spirited in any way. It's all very touching and I had a great time. But what I keep thinking about isn't how good it is, it's more about how it's greatness is almost routine.
★★★★
To settle things...
Jhon's Movie of the Week is... The Night of the Hunter.
★★★★
To settle things...
Jhon's Movie of the Week is... The Night of the Hunter.
4 comments:
Uh, what? Wall-E not "best film ever"?
Kenyon :whimpers:
Your description of Night of the Hunter almost makes me want to see it again, if it weren't for the fact that I saw it 3 months ago and it wasn't at all the movie you described.
It was all that was described and so much more. You've made the right choice as there's only probably 20 films in existence that can stand up to Night of the Hunter.
hi, felt the need to leave some sort of a trace.
yor blog is my all time fav movie blog EVER.
i just love the way you express your feelnigs for the films, somewhat special and simple. you don't use some stupid clichees and stuff, you just write down what the film meant to YOU. that's what i like, that subjectivity...
and your taste in films is pretty fine. Especially the love for eastern cinematography, as well as french new wawe and american "independant" ones:) The list you made are aboslutely fantastic, and yes, almost famous and eternal sunshine of the spotless mind are probably best films ever :)
I've seen a lot of films you wrote about, and i feel and think the same about 85% of them... i read you on regular bases, and your blog is the only thing i visit on the internet when i'm not sure what to watch :)
blah, just wanted to say hi actually, because you said that there are only 2 people who read you regulary... makoe it 3.
thanks for the comments.
Post a Comment