10 films, part 14
Some Like It Hot (Billy Wilder, 1959). Two male band players try to escape gangsters by disguising themselves as women and going on tour with an all-women band. I can’t see why this is in the top 250 on IMDb, but I guess men in drag was pushing the limits in -59. The jokes are obvious, the characters one-dimensional and the story full of silly coincidences to make everything work. [6/10]
Memories of Murder (original title: Salinui chueok) (Joon-ho Bong, 2003). Two rural cops have a hard time with a serial killer case and uses violent methods to force confessions, when a city-cop arrives and brings the logic they need. A good film, very pretty. [8/10]
City of God (original title: Cidade de Deus) (Fernando Meirelles, 2002). Violent street gangs in Rio de Janeiro made of children fight over turf, where a boy their age wants to become a news photographer. This was a film that stayed with me a couple of days, it doesn’t present a nice picture of what humans do to each other. [9/10]
Cat People (Paul Schrader, 1982). A breed of half-humans, half-cats, from Africa turns into violent panthers when sexually excited and can only turn back to human by killing. I’ve heard a lot of good of this horror film, but it didn’t live up to my expectations at all. Everything felt extremely silly, even if it’s always nice to see Malcolm McDowell (the second incestuous role I’ve seen him do). Oh, I just found out there’s a 1942 version, and I realize that’s the one I’ve heard good things about. Crap. [3/10]
Good Morning (original title: Ohayô) (Yasujiro Ozu, 1959). In a small Japanese community there’s only one TV-set and all the young boys gravitate there. Two of them are scolded for speaking up to their father and decide to stay completely silent, which of course leads to trouble. Ozu is great at showing the drama of everyday life; everything feels real, but you still want to know what happens. [8/10]
Storm (Måns Mårlind and Björn Stein, 2005). A man finds himself in a battle between light and dark, and has to keep a mysterious cube safe from the dark side. A new Swedish action/horror/thriller/comic book movie, where the main guy does nothing but get beaten, the female representative of the light kicks ass and the story can be read as a symbolic inner struggle between the forces of acceptance and repression. The movie manages to add humor without being silly, humor which actually works. IMDb trivia says it’s the first Swedish film to include the famous Wilhelm scream, watch a YouTube compilation to know what it is. [7/10]
Jarhead (Sam Mendes, 2005). We follow American marines in training, and then to Operation Desert Storm. It’s cool that each soldier has his reasons for fighting, and that nothing’s presented as the true way. Also very nice photo. [8/10]
This Gun for Hire (Frank Tuttle, 1942). A contract killer is framed by his employer and wants revenge as he tries to avoid the police. I didn’t like the somewhat silly McGuffin of a chemical formula on nerve gas to sell to the enemy in the war, but Alan Ladd’s character is interesting as he walks the line between vile sympathetic. Interesting to finally see Veronica Lake that’s so central to L.A. Confidential. [7/10]
Ping Pong (Fumihiko Sori, 2002). Two ping-pong playing friends have completely different approaches to the game, but still help each other in the important tournament. It’s really good of the creators to make ping pong look cool, but the amount of poop jokes and the predictable story dragged the film down. [7/10]
Foutaises (English title: Things I Like, Things I Don’t Like) (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1989). In this short film a man tells the audience what he likes and what he doesn’t like. A fun short with the actor Dominique Pinon that Jeunet likes to use. You can see the short at YouTube. [9/10]