Repulsion is my favourite of the director. Frantic is one of Harrison Fords better starring films of the time. Bitter Moon is the last one I liked.
[quote=“Stanton, post:8595, topic:1923”]Frantic was even more conventional. 6/10
Chinatown is special in every respect. A masterpiece which is incredibly filmed. Which I can’t say from every film Polanski made since.[/quote]
Frantic is more conventional yes, but it was well-made, well-filmed, with a good use of the Parisian locations. I think the strength of Chinatown is more the way it is made, it’s not an exceptional movie storywise. I don’t know what happened to him later, but he made a couple of real stinkers. But every now and then, he still shows there’s a decent film in him.
I think the story of Chinatown is also pretty good. Better than in every other noir.
Have never been able to get involved in the story to Chinatown. I have tried many times, without success.
Chinatown and Repulsion are both masterpieces for me, great movies. As for Frantic, the story was certainly conventional, but I found it very gripping and the scene when Ford dances with Seigner is one of my favorites. Superbly rendered little thriller, not a bad soundtrack by Morricone too.
As regards latest efforts by Polanski, I really enjoyed Oliver Twist (yes, I know it was rather negatively rated, but I liked it anyway - loved the atmosphere), Ghost Writer, and loved Carnage (might have some flaws, but nonetheless good dark comedy).
[quote=“Mickey13, post:8605, topic:1923”]Chinatown and Repulsion are both masterpieces for me, great movies. As for Frantic, the story was certainly conventional, but I found it very gripping and the scene when Ford dances with Seigner is one of my favorites. Superbly rendered little thriller, not a bad soundtrack by Morricone too.
As regards latest efforts by Polanski, I really enjoyed Oliver Twist (yes, I know it was rather negatively rated, but I liked it anyway - loved the atmosphere), Ghost Writer, and loved Carnage (might have some flaws, but nonetheless good dark comedy).[/quote]
I’d have to say Chinatown is my favorite; haven’t seen it in quite awhile - have to watch it soon…
Chinatown is for me among the seven or so films that I think could qualify as true “art” (using the term as an adjective rather than a category). One of the few films ever made that are for me just perfect. Polanski is uneven; Frantic, while good, is nothing stand-out for me, and many of his eighties/nineties moives are of not much interest to me, but The Pianist works really well I think. Undoubtably a personal film for him, it’s themes are followed through in the less good but still intriguing Oliver Twist.
Aeon Flux - always thought this was straight to DVD flick, but, with 60 mil. budget, probably not (it just looks cheap for those money)
anyway, i’ve seen it few times, but in very unfocused manner - this time i’ve stayed concentrated - mainly on Charlize Theron’s voluptuous stature
it was okay, kinda cyberbiopunk effort with no surprises - but it has some fine ideas, which keep viewer entartained (unfortunately there are also some stupid ideas)
probably two most cool things in the movie are zeppelin (airship) flying over the city and Theron’s outfit - god bless the designer, in both cases
Postman - Costner after infamous Kevin’s Gate (sorry, Water World) did it again - i can’t say, which one of two PA films is bettter, both have shortcomings, but i’d say Water World is a lot more fun - on the other hand the script for Postman works better for me (don’t know how faithful it is to David Brin’s cult novel), but it is sometimes unbearably serious
THE REEF
Small but suspenseful shark thriller (this has become a genre on its own)
Closer to Open water than to Jaws, actually
Simple story, but decent acting, by both the actors and the sharks. Only marred by a rather abrupt ending. When you think: Ah, and what are you going to do now? - the film is over (there is a written message though)
Recommended if you like this kind of stuff
7/10
[quote=“tomas, post:8608, topic:1923”]Aeon Flux - always thought this was straight to DVD flick, but, with 60 mil. budget, probably not (it just looks cheap for those money)
anyway, i’ve seen it few times, but in very unfocused manner - this time i’ve stayed concentrated - mainly on Charlize Theron’s voluptuous stature
it was okay, kinda cyberbiopunk effort with no surprises - but it has some fine ideas, which keep viewer entartained (unfortunately there are also some stupid ideas)
probably two most cool things in the movie are zeppelin (airship) flying over the city and Theron’s outfit - god bless the designer, in both cases[/quote]
As far as I know this is another heavily edited film against the wishes of the director. Probably totally destroyed. The short runtime is a good indication for this.
i didn’t like the finale - lousy directed shootouts - until then it was quite watchable
Screwed - British drama about an ex-soldier who served in the Iraq war who comes back home and becomes a prison officer where he witnesses all kinds of violence and corruption. Not outstanding but worth a watch.
Another yellow box for last night’s shameless extravaganza…
The House With Laughing Windows
From the little I’d heard about this I reckoned this was gonna be right up my street, but I didn’t really enjoy it. It sounded like it had all the right ingredients - as a slow, moody, atmospheric giallo with nasty overtones - and about an artist renovating a picture, but it was more of a horror vibe than giallo (although it was a hybrid and in parts both). It ended up being more arty than was good for it - something like Twin Peaks crossed with The Wicker Man, but less than its parts. Beautifully shot, it relied more on scenery and sensory satiation than it did on story. I can see why so many people like it - but not really my mug of cider. I like my horror a bit more camp than this!
Odd Man Out - James Mason is on the run after killing someone during a robbery. Being shot himself by the man he killed he moves from place to place avoiding the law as his condition deteriorates. Enjoyed this one.
Ski Troop Attack, 1960… A rare Roger Corman flub, I think. Has a great premise (a US commando-unit on ski’s, enters Germany to blow-up a bridge while ‘the battle of the bulge’ is happening), but the project lacks heart or something. Some relatively okay ski-scenes, but a blandly forgettable script has the characters saying stuff like:
" Had enough action for one day, Sergeant? “
” Yeah, Lieutenant. "
CHRISTMAS EVIL - Almost nothing happens in this incomprehensible psychological thriller about a guy who takes Christmas way too seriously and can’t stand getting mocked anymore
MEMORIAL VALLEY MASSACRE - Late 80’s dreadful camp slasher full of cliches, absurdities, bad acting etc. etc.
Triple Jim Jarmusch feature: Night On Earth (very entertaining and interesting structurally), Stranger than Paradise (this one was a masterpiece and my favorite Jarmusch effort), Down by Law (loved every minute of it, extremely funny).
And Apocalypse Now: As good as usual, but the last 15 minutes - damn, it’s jaw-dropping and mesmeric - I couldn’t believe it’s really happening. Storaro’s cinematography is… absolutely otherworldly…
Rosemary’s Baby - Not seen it for many years, still holds up well. The Criterion disc looks great.
Rosemary’s child is a flawlessly directed flick. Classy and very good to me.
Crowhaven Farm, 1970… probably Aaron Spelling’s attempt to spam Rosemary’s Baby’s audience, by having a New York City couple (who can’t have a baby) ‘inherit’ a farm. The woman suddenly is pregnant, and all the people in the area are revealed to be incarnate witches from the 1500’s. Awful moviemaking. It’s neither suspenseful nor scary.