Thursday, September 16, 2021
The Fountain
- Commentary: Under construction.
Interestingly, there is more than one commentary on this film at RogerEbert.com. There is Roger Ebert's initial review linked to the title of this post, written September 13, 2007. On September 11, 2006, Jim Emerson also wrote an initial review of this movie. On November 21, 2006, Jim Emerson wrote a second review of the movie for the website, as well. In September of 2007 Roger Ebert also wrote two meditations on the film, one published on September 14, 2007, and one, a response to his September 14th review, published on September 17, 2007. Once again, Jim Emerson chimed in on September 17, 2007, with his own third meditation.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Hugh Jackman Tomás Verde /Thomas Creo/Tommy the Space Traveler Rachel Weisz Isabella I of Castile/Izzi Creo Ellen Burstyn Dr. Lillian Guzetti Stephen McHattie Grand Inquisitor Silecio Mark Margolis Father Avila Cliff Curtis Captain Ariel Sean Patrick Thomas Antonio Fernando Hernandez Lord of Xibalba
My, this movie generated a lot of reviewer buzz, and not just within the Ebert Review Universe. Just check out this link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film. It's funny, because I remember checking it out of the library to watch it when it was first released on DVD. I was slightly gob-smacked by the entire production but was very busy at the time and wasn't able to watch it more than once before it was due back on the library shelves. I'm thinking that I missed quite a bit of the impact of the movie. It was the last year of my companionship of my mother, on to her death. I had no way of knowing she'd be gone in just over a year, but I was also so embraced in caring for her that, well, if she, or I, or we, watched a movie, there simply wasn't time to watch it more than once if it wasn't a part of our collection. At that time, this one wasn't. Now, it is, and I can contemplate it more fully.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: §2, darren-aronofsky, ellen-burstyn, fantasy4, magical-realism, prophecy, rachel-weisz, romance5, spiritual2
Noah
- Commentary: I finally watched this movie a couple of nights ago, let's see, Friday night, the 17th of September, 2021. I think Darren Aronofsky's mind was in the right place when he approached making this movie, but the part of it that follows narrative sense quirked out on him. Truth is, Noah's story in the Bible, and Enoch, doesn't make a lot of sense. I think it's supposed to be a "testament of signs and wonders", so to speak, and, as such, isn't meant to make quotidian sense. So, any film maker can not only be forgiven for adding and revamping strict biblical material, but can be praised for off-official-story changes that the film maker chooses to make. In making a film with wild, misshapen material, it isn't, though, forgivable for a film maker to let a sense of giddiness take over when making choices. I think that's what Aronofsky did. In addition, he underplayed, to the movie's detriment, some of the original story's frank suggestions of moral turpitude and overplayed, also to the movie's detriment, some of the story's suggestions of Noah's moral rectitude and ardor.
Having said all that, and revealing a sense of disappointment in the movie, still, it's a spectacular attempt at a biblical epic, and better than any other Noah films I've seen (yes, I've seen a few, but, I think there are only a few). And, besides, I enjoyed the whole sub-development of The Watcher's story. It reminded me of the movie Watchmen (sorry, I never followed the comic book series), and kept me wondering what the whole deal is with men (male men, that is) and watchers. So I'm keeping it, because, as you may remember, Dear Reader, I have this thing about bible movies, mainly because my mother loved them so much. And, you never know, perhaps yet another agnostic atheist in the family will find them equally fascinating when I am no more of this earth. And, anyway, now I have a personal mystery to solve ... what is it with this male obsession with watchers/watchmen, anyway?
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Russell Crowe Noah Jennifer Connelly Naameh Ray Winstone Tubal-cain Anthony Hopkins Methuselah Emma Watson Ila Logan Lerman Ham Douglas Booth Shem Marton Csokas Lamech
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2014
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: anthony-hopkins, apocalyptic, bible-movies1, darren-aronofsky, jennifer-connelly, ray-winstone, russell-crowe
Friday, April 10, 2009
Requiem for a Dream
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: I had wanted to watch this movie ever since it came out and somehow never got the chance. I never mentioned it to anyone, but I thought of it often. When we joined a rental service I put it in my queue but there were always so many other, much lighter movies that I placed before it because, somehow, I knew this wasn't a film Mom would want to watch. Then, during the spring of 2008 when Mom was in the hospital in rehab, out of the blue MFS sent me a copy of this movie...even though I'm sure I never mentioned my interest in it to her...it's become, since, a symbol of our psychic link.
This movie is frenetic, tragic and gorgeous, all at the same time. Ostensibly the story of what addiction (to a variety of "things", including dreams) can do to a person. It's wonderfully acted and so succinctly imagined, written, produced, directed and portrayed that, after one scene in which one of the characters sexually compromises herself for drugs, MFS told me she felt like she needed to take a shower. It's true: The movie throws the grime of desperation right through the screen at you. There's something in this movie to make anyone, everyone feel dirty. The desperation never lets up; it's like watching a family version of Titus Andronicus. Which, of course, thrills me. I don't know why I'm attracted to such spot-on portrayals of the dregs of life, but I am, and this one is a masterpiece. I've watched it three times since I've received it. I'll watch it again. I've even created the category of "tragedy" for it, because, oddly, despite my attraction to tragedy, except for some of the video adaptations of Shakespeare's plays, we have no other relentless tragedies. I think I held off while Mom was alive because I suspected that I wouldn't be able to watch them, much. I was right...but, (cackling deleriously and rubbing hands together) THE SCREEN IS MINE, NOW, ALL AND ONLY MINE ...
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Ellen Burstyn Sara Goldfarb Jared Leto Harry Goldfarb Jennifer Connelly Marion Silver Marlon Wayans Tyrone C. Love Christopher McDonald Tappy Tibbons Mark Margolis Mr. Rabinowitz Louise Lasser Ada Marcia Jean Kurtz Rae Sean Gullette Arnold The Shrink Keith David Big Tim Janet Sarno Mrs. Pearlman Dylan Baker Southern Doctor
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2000
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: audio-visual, darren-aronofsky, drama7, dream1, dylan-baker, ellen-burstyn, film-art1, haunting2, jennifer-connelly, me-favorite2, tragedy2, violence2
Monday, February 21, 2005
π
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This one is my treat, one of my trance movies. I don't know if Mom will ever see this movie. I think it would bore her. She does not find representations of the internal flights of one's mind interesting, not even if a story centers around them. She is a "what did they do", not a "what were they thinking" person. I think this is because she is such a quick study in regards to picking up on what people are thinking...but, considers that what a person is thinking is absolutely no excuse for bad behavior.
Update 5/11/2020: Per my above prediction, and my machinations, Mom never saw this movie. Frankly, if she's "out there somewhere", I think she would still feel that it would have been a waste to time to watch it. Go, Mom!
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Sean Gullette Maximillian Cohen Mark Margolis Sol Robeson Ben Shenkman Lenny Meyer Samia Shoaib Devi Pamela Hart Marcy Dawson Stephen Pearlman Rabbi Cohen Ajay Naidu Farouq Kristyn Mae-Anne Lao Jenna
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Darren Aronofsky.
Labels: A24, darren-aronofsky, dramaB, dream1, film-art2, me-favorite3, mystery2, neo-noirB
