10 films: Lady in the Water to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Lady in the Water (M. Night Shyamalan, 2006). Shyamalan plays a visionary writer with an important message to mankind. There’s also a water woman that needs help to return to her fictional world, but her story doesn’t overshadow the obviously more important Shyamalan story. This is a self-indulgent, self-absorbed and self-centered film written, directed and acted by Shyamalan. [4/10]
All About Eve (Joseph L. Mankiewicz, 1950). The fan of a famous actress starts to take over her life. I love Mankiewicz’s scriptwriting, both the characters and the story are interesting. [9/10]
A Streetcar Named Desire (Elia Kazan, 1951). A woman moves to her sister to recuperate, but is troubled by her sister’s husband. I like Marlon Brando, and he carries the picture together with Vivien Leigh. [7/10]
Viskningar och rop (English title: Cries and Whispers) (Ingmar Bergman, 1972). Three women watch over a fourth dying woman in a dreamlike 19th century mansion. While this isn’t my favorite Bergman film, excellent acting and harrowing scenes at the death bed still make this worth watching. [7/10]
The Scent of Green Papaya (original title: Mùi du du xanh - L’odeur de la papaye verte) (Anh Hung Tran, 1993). A young Vietnamese woman works for, and falls in love with, a pianist. Beautifully shot, simply and effectively told. [8/10]
Taxidermia (György Pálfi, 2006). Three generations of Hungarian men are all intimately involved in bodily functions in their own ways. A grotesque and disturbing film that portrays disgusting events in visually beautiful ways. [8/10]
Travellers and Magicians (Khyentse Norbu, 2003). A young man is tired of his small village in Bhutan and decides to go to New York. On the way he gets to know some fellow travellers. This is the first film produced in Bhutan, and a nice little story of strangers and casual friends. [9/10]
Possessed (Curtis Bernhardt, 1947). A woman with no memory reveals to her psychiatrist that she may have killed someone. The story is presented in flashbacks and gives an interesting portrait of a disturbed woman. [8/10]
Save the Green Planet (original title: Jigureul jikyeora!) (Joon-Hwan Jang, 2003). A young man convinced that aliens have infiltrated human society kidnaps a businessman and tortures him to reveal the aliens’ plans. For a long time you don’t know if the young man is correct or merely insane in this strange mix of horror, thriller, splatter, science fiction and comedy. [7/10]
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (Clint Eastwood, 1997). A local millionaire in Savannah, Georgia, is arrested for killing his young male lover. Kevin Spacey plays the millionaire and is good as usual. The story is good, but predictable. [7/10]