Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Joker
- Commentary: Yes, yes, yes! Spectacular film!
Truth is, I'm not heavy into super-hero-comic-book movies, but there are a few I favor, and when I favor them, I really favor them. I'd seen trailers of this movie and my curiosity had been piqued, but, with 100 holds on the movie at the library the day it was released, and a pretty-penny-purchase-price, I knew it would be awhile before I even saw it, let alone considered owning it. My Florida Sister, though, had seen the same trailers, been similarly intrigued, and, instead of buying the movie for herself, she pleaded her work schedule, which wouldn't allow her to see it for awhile, and sent the movie to me!
Yes, it's dark as fuck. Yes, it's not only an origin story that adds to the plausibility of The Dark Knight (which I immediately rewatched after viewing Joker for the first time; yes, Virginia, I finally did watch the entire The Dark Knight movie, thoroughly enjoyed it and have watched it twice since the first viewing just to revel in Heath Ledger's performance), the pleasure of watching Joaquin Phoenix's performance was sooo satisfying. The man, literally, danced through the story, sometimes explicitly, always implicitly. I've since read reviews of the movie and they are maniacally mixed (except for reviews of Phoenix's performance). While there were many accolades, some considered the story unforgivably incendiary. Some considered it scattershot, too obvious, and/or boring. Almost no one acknowledged the obvious connection between Gotham's Joker by Heath Ledger and Joker by Joaquin Phoenix.
Speaking of critical constroversy, although Roger Ebert didn't live long enough to see this movie, reviewers on the site wrote not less than four pieces about the film. The initial review granted it only two stars, but, then, a second, then a third, then a fourth piece followed. Extraordinary.
Although I am a thoughtful fan of super-hero/super-villain movies, don't own many and have seen only the few I own, I have to say, this movie renders the madness of Joker and the madness of Gotham so immediate and real that it makes me wonder, how many Jokers are out there, around the corner, in our confusion of Gothams, just waiting for an accidented (yes, Virginia, accidented) chassis to place them on the world stage?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Joaquin Phoenix Arthur Fleck/Joker Robert De Niro Murray Franklin Zazie Beetz Sopie Dumond Frances Conroy Penny Fleck Brett Cullen Thomas Wayne Carrie Louise Putrello Martha Wayne Douglas Hodge Alfred Pennyworth Dante Pereira-Olson Bruce Wayne/Batman
For the curious, here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film. Not surprisingly, considering the controversy that erupted around the film, it is a much extended piece, including the usually threadbare Critical Response section.
Release Date: 2019
Directed by Todd Phillips
Labels: action2, adventure2, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, dance, drama2, fantasy1, film-art1, horror1, joaquin-phoenix, political1, robert-de-niro, satire1, super-hero1, violence1
Confucius
- Commentary: I almost didn't acquire this movie. I found out about it, looked for it at the local library, couldn't find it and figured, well, I don't want to take a chance on it if I can't pre-view (yes, the dash is intentional) it. I mean, I'm familiar with some of Chow Yun Fat's work, martial arts stuff, find him riveting as an actor but knew almost nothing about Confucius except for the dubious details that our culture pawns off on us. When I discovered the movie, by accident, I was intrigued enough to go looking for information on the man, himself. It was this research, which is voluminous, that whetted my interest in the movie. There is a great deal of information on Confucius, but the most intriguing bit of information is that there is some (little) historical doubt as to whether he or his renowned teacher, Laozi, even existed in anything other than legend. Regardless of whether either figure actually existed or were combinations of several Chinese philosophers and legends, the impact of both figures on both Chinese and global society cannot be denied.
So, based only on Confucius' impact, my appreciation for Chow Yun Fat's work and finding the movie, new, at a good price, I decided to purchase it.
I'm pleased I did. Whether Confucius is legend or fact, the movie is so well done and very involving. It swept me up and delivered me into a life full of action and intrigue. Extraordinary man. His life, legendary, actual, whatever, was a touchstone. If such a person hadn't have lived, he surely would have been invented, by the best minds of his day and the days to come.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Chow Yun-fat Confucius Zhou Xun Nanzi Xu Huanshan Laozi Yao Lu Duke Lu Dinggong Ma Jingwu Duke Jing of Qi Bi Yanjun Duke Ling of Wei Wang Huichun Li Chu Li Huan Kuai Kui Chen Jianbin Jisun Si Lu Yi Jisun Fei Wang Ban Shushun Wu Wu Liansheng Mengsun He Kai Li Lady Qiguan Qiao Zhenyu Kong Li Chen Rui Kong Jiao Ren Quan Yan Hui
In case you're curious, here's the Wikipedia page on this film. It's a sad affair, especially since most of its wordage is about (some) of the controversies surrounding the film. The review linked to the title of this post is from ScreenAnarchy and, I think, is a much fairer representation of the film, including the constroversies it stirred. Don't be surprised if I link to more of their content in the future.
Release Date: 2010
Directed by Hu Mei.
Labels: §2, action2, adventure2, biography1, cgi-animation, drama2, female-director1, historical1, period1, political1, reflective, spectacle1, spiritual1, war1
Mulan: Rise of a Warrior
- Commentary: I didn't know this movie existed until recently. Yes, I enjoy the Disney cartoon version of Mulan, I have it in my collection. When I discovered that this live action version existed, though, I immediately checked it out of our library system and watched it. Although it dramatizes many of the same themes, including romance, although a thwarted one, it is a much more serious take on the legend, especially since any comic elements this one contains (and, there are a few soft moments that could be considered comic) do not have anything to do with Eddie Murphy or a dragon and a chicken. However, there is a striking parallel between the portrayal of the Mulans.
Much to my surprise, I'm not sure which version I prefer. Immediately after I watched this version (when I initially checked in out of the library), I found myself hankering to watch Disney's version ... and I did. Both movies have such a high degree of respect for the heroine that I find them both satisfying, and mutually complementary. Which is why I now own a copy.
You'll notice the number of tags I have attached to this movie; and the fact that the same number is not attached to the Disney version of Mulan. I think all the tags I've attached to this version could apply to the Disney version, but I think this movie had more of an impact on me than the Disney version. Truth is, I'm curious about the 2020 live action Mulan put out by Disney. At some point I'll check it out of the library and watch it, but I'm not sure I'll purchase it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Zhao Wei Hua Mulan Chen Kun Wentai Hu Jun Mendu Jaycee Chan Fei Xiaohu Nicky Lee Hu Kui Liu Yuxin Rouran Princess Yu Rongguang Hua Hu Vitas Guide
If you feel the need, here's the sparse write-up on this film at Wikipedia.
Release Date: 2009
Directed by Jingle Ma.
Labels: §2, action2, adventure2, cgi-animation, coming-of-age1, drama2, fantasy1, father-daughter-dynamics, gender-bender, historical1, military, period1, political1, romance1, spectacle1, tragedy1, war1
The Red Violin
- Commentary: I didn't buy this movie for the story, I bought it for the music and the performance of Joshua Bell, but I enjoy the story well enough and will likely watch it, again. It's lively, involving, wide-ranging and, for the most part, the actors are good, if a bit hammy. And, it's not the story of people, really, it's the story of a musical instrument and, desire for, as Samuel Jackson's character says, (I paraphrase) the desire for perfection and beauty, for which we all yearn and which is curious and provocative to contemplate. The movie case says the violin has a "shocking secret", but it's not shocking to me, just delightfully surprising.
The score won an Academy Award in 1998; that is how I learned of the movie. The score is full of beautiful classical-standard-sounding pieces, all written by John Corigliano [see, also Wise Music's page on John Corigliano or, if you prefer, his Wikipedia page, which is surprisingly sparse, considering his accomplishments], a much lauded composer who, at this writing, is alive and continuing to compose and teach. I heard the intriguing music before I knew anything about the story contained in the movie.
I think, as well, this movie is one my mother would have absolutely loved, dementia-lite or not. And, yes, I continue to enjoy watching movies that my mother loved or I think she would have loved. These movies bring my mother back into the living room, into her rocking chair, next to me, whenever I watch them.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Samuel L. Jackson Charles Morritz Colm Feore Auctioneer Carlo Cecchi Nicolò Bussotti Irene Grazioli Anna Rudolfi Bussotti Christoph Koncz Kaspar Weitz Jean-Luc Bideau Georges Poussin Jason Flemyng Frederick Pope Greta Scacchi Victoria Byrd Joshua Bell 1st Violin Sylvia Chang Xiang Pei/Her Mother) Liu Zifeng Zhou Yuan Sandra Oh Madame Ming
Here's the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by François Girard.
Labels: adventure2, drama2, historical1, musical1, mystery1, samuel-l-jackson
