[size=12pt]Lepota poroka aka The Beauty of Sin[/size] (1988) Zivko Nikolic
This film is by now more know because it has a nude scene with Croatian born actress Mira Furlan, of Babylon 5 and Lost series fame, there’s nothing wrong with that, but this was still an interesting work when it was just an obscure Yugoslavian production.
The story is quite simple and well told, the film is a good combination of Italian style (Scolla is a reference), with the Yugoslavian filming tradition, its basically a clash of cultures theme film, it tells the story of a newly married couple that lived somewhere in the mountains, under some very strictly society rules that haven’t change in centuries, almost without any sings of modernism at all, that thanks to their marriage godfather (a very cool part, and actor by the way) got some jobs in a nudist resort near the coast, where everything (from people to society rules) is different from what they have experience so far in their lives. This will affect the young couple specially the woman (Mira Furlan), and have a strong impact in their own believes and former lives, will they ever be able to return to their old ways ?.
Is not a masterpiece but like I said a very interesting film with some good acting performances and some great scenes, like the one where they have to carry a car by hand (a Yugo rallye style) trough the mountains cause there was no practicable path, with the donkey carrying the wheels, you have to see it to believe it. Also couldn’t help notice the similarities with the Portuguese old traditions in the deep inland seeing those old ladies in black just reminded me of that.
My version had English out of sync subs which made me even to be with more attention watching the film
[quote=“ENNIOO, post:4902, topic:1923”]Just viewed. Pickens is the best thing. Always so cheerful. The singer rapist guy was a bit of an arse.[/quote]Pickens was definately the best one in it.
I wonder how many exploitation flicks Shelley Winters was in in the 70’s? For such a high profile actress she was in quite a few.
Been wanting to see this one since Topo recommended it back in January. Got hold of a fandub and finally got around to viewing it today.
Very nice film. Slow paced and I guess pretty predictable but plenty for me to enjoy. Not least David McCallum who is a favourite of mine and, of course, the beautiful Niccoletta Machiavelli. It is beautifully shot too, in a gorgeous snow covered landscape. If only this were available in a proper wide screen release. The full screen chop was it’s biggest down side for me.
Cheers for the recommendation Topo. An hour and a half well spent for me.
Been wanting to see this one since Topo recommended it back in January. Got hold of a fandub and finally got around to viewing it today.
Very nice film. Slow paced and I guess pretty predictable but plenty for me to enjoy. Not least David McCallum who is a favourite of mine and, of course, the beautiful Niccoletta Machiavelli. It is beautifully shot too, in a gorgeous snow covered landscape. If only this were available in a proper wide screen release. The full screen chop was it’s biggest down side for me.
Cheers for the recommendation Topo. An hour and a half well spent for me.[/quote]
Yes one of those films that regardless its inner quality worked just perfectly for me, this was so due to a serie of factors: the actors (also a MacCallum fan and obviously a Machiavelli super fan) the story backround , the scenario, and the Yugoslavian war film feeling (even if directed by an Italian) that the film does have, and as some my have notice by now is something I do like, and like Ennio also love those snowy landscapes.
One of the things the films ends up telling us is that in the worst situations, a few moments of peace feels like forever.
I watched the blaxploitation film Hit Man last night. Despite a great cast and lots of potential, it underwhelmed. You’re much better off watching Get Carter, which has the same source material.
Human Lanterns this evening, a batshit insane horror kung fu flick. Sadly, probably also the most entertaining film about lanterns I will see this year.
1974… (the original) [size=12pt]Gone In 60-Seconds[/size]
The perfect ‘independent’ film. I saw it a few days after it opened, as friends began raving about it. The first-half of the film was so obscure then. I, and audiences as-a-whole didn’t ‘understand’ the film’s structure. Only way later, did I understand H.B. Halicki’s genius as an indie pioneer. A train-wreck happens near the film’s location-shooting, Halicki grabs a camera-crew and films an ‘insurance investigation’-scene at the wreck in real time.. He dubs-in a conversation later, because he seldom uses close-ups of faces. During shooting, somebody in Halicki’s family got married… so he grabs another camera-crew and films several ‘crime-plotting’-scenes at the real wedding-reception. Race Legend; Parnelli Jones, was in-town for a convention/Baja Rally festivities… Halicki films Jones in an impromptu insurance-investigation… The film-audiences I was a part of, were used-to special-effect train-wrecks, stereotypical wedding choreography, and high-impact celebrity guest-stars. Indie film-makers don’t give-a-shit about formula.
The final car-chase lasts 38-minutes, and I think it’s the best filmed chase ever… edging Bullit and Ronin by sheer camera-footage. Multi-angles abound, and there’s no musical-soundtrack to distract from tire-squealing and torque-whining. Several stunts are spellbindingly volatile-looking… 2 police-cars simultaneously slam into the side of garbage-truck with enough force to knock the truck over. -Stuff like that. Halicki did all the driving, and plays the lead character.
The Nick Cage/Angie Jolie version of GI60S is an absolute insult to Halicki, who died in '89. Eleven years before the Jolie/Cage atrocity.
[quote=“kit saginaw, post:4912, topic:1923”]1974… (the original) [size=12pt]Gone In 60-Seconds[/size]
The perfect ‘independent’ film. I saw it a few days after it opened, as friends began raving about it. The first-half of the film was so obscure then. I, and audiences as-a-whole didn’t ‘understand’ the film’s structure. Only way later, did I understand H.B. Halicki’s genius as an indie pioneer. A train-wreck happens near the film’s location-shooting, Halicki grabs a camera-crew and films an ‘insurance investigation’-scene at the wreck in real time.. He dubs-in a conversation later, because he seldom uses close-ups of faces. During shooting, somebody in Halicki’s family got married… so he grabs another camera-crew and films several ‘crime-plotting’-scenes at the real wedding-reception. Race Legend; Parnelli Jones, was in-town for a convention/Baja Rally festivities… Halicki films Jones in an impromptu insurance-investigation… The film-audiences I was a part of, were used-to special-effect train-wrecks, stereotypical wedding choreography, and high-impact celebrity guest-stars. Indie film-makers don’t give-a-shit about formula.
The final car-chase lasts 38-minutes, and I think it’s the best filmed chase ever… edging Bullit and Ronin by sheer camera-footage. Multi-angles abound, and there’s no musical-soundtrack to distract from tire-squealing and torque-whining. Several stunts are spellbindingly volatile-looking… 2 police-cars simultaneously slam into the side of garbage-truck with enough force to knock the truck over. -Stuff like that. Halicki did all the driving, and plays the lead character.
The Nick Cage/Angie Jolie version of GI60S is an absolute insult to Halicki, who died in '89. Eleven years before the Jolie/Cage atrocity. [/quote]
Sounds like a mustsee.
About the Jolie/Cage remake: haven’t seen it. These two in one movie is a bit too much for me.
The Rain People : A very good Coppola, but somehow I didn’t like it as much as You’re a Big Boy Now. Maybe that’s because the latter is easier to relate for someone my age. Anyway, amazing performances from all-involved.
The Longest Nite : Now that’s the kind of crime film I love! A great and extremely bleak flick with Tony Leung Chiu Wai as a violent and corrupt cop in deep trouble and Lau Ching Wan has one of the meanest and most intimidating thug I’ve ever seen. Top notch stuff!
Shanghai Shanghai : Teddy Robin Kwan had a directing career? Well, I guess you learn something everyday. A decent, fun film, but nothing more. There’s a few similitude with Peking Opera Blues, but POB is a far superior film. A better director and a longer running time, to flesh out the story, would have improved the movie a great deal. Too bad because it has a great cast ; Yuen Biao, Anita Mui, Sammo Hung and Lo Lieh (should have had a bigger role). The best scene of the movie involve a dance/fight between Biao and Mui, lovely.
New Nightmare : The first good sequel in the series since the second installment, the best sequel, actually. I really liked the concept of the film and the only real problem I had with it is the music, very unfitting for a horror film. And more Robert Englund would have been fun.
I had a few very busy days, but I managed to watch a couple of movies:
The Ghost Writer (2010, Roman Polanski)
Elegant thriller about a ghost writer (Ewan McGregor) hired to rewrite the memoirs of the former UK prime minister (clearly based on Tony Blair, and played by Pierce Brosnan). He soon discovers something’s completely wrong. Great direction and performances, but not really helped by a script that is only so so. Holds your attention until the end, but then leaves you with an empty feeling. Brosnan is getting better and better. I never liked him as 007, but he was very good in Seraphim Falls and he’s even better here. There are nice cameo performances by James Belushi and Eli Wallach. 7+
Melinda and Melinda (2004, Woody Allen)
Woody’s version of two movies for the price of one. Two screenwriters discuss whether the essence of life is comic or a tragic. Woody films both possible versions of the story of a woman, Melinda, who tries to pick up her life after a few unhappy experiences. The film got mixed reviews and left me with mixed feelings. Woody had done this before, mixing two entirely different stories, but never in this (all too deliberately) post-modern fashion. A sort of Melinda Rennt, so to speak. Overall the cast is great, but I didn’t like Radha Mitchell in the (double) title role. She’s not a bad actress, but she simply wasn’t the right actress for the part (that was written with Wynona Ryder in mind). 7-
[size=12pt]Le Sauveur [/size] (1970) Michael Mardore
Saw this one without really many expectations, and at the begining seemed a bit like Siegel’s The Beguiled, but it turn out to be a very different film, and what surprised me even more, is that is based in real facts.
I really recommend the film its a very powerful and can say it scary story, with great twists that will shock the viewer big time, at least it had that effect on me, a very unconfortable film that makes thing about human condition, also the photography work is excellent.
The acting is top nocht from everyone but special kudos to Horst Buchholz great actor does a incredible job here.
This got be one of the finest film I had the chance to watch this year, and I’ve seen some very good, and this coming from a director I didn’t even know go figure, this one got it all, love, sex, hate, deceive death and not by this order
Drama action set in war time in the 40’s. Anthony Quinn is hired to take a group of people across some mountains, with the Germans hot on their trail. Malcolm McDowell hams it up as an SS Officer and goes a little over the top with it all. Average on the whole, with Quinn a little to old for this type of role.
Just finished watching F.W. Murnau’s Faust. Definitely up there with Nosferatu as the best silent movies I’ve seen… I like the special effects from 1926 better what I see nowadays
