Sunday, June 30, 2024
No Bears
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Jafar Panahi Himself Naser Hashemi Village Chief Vahid Mobasheri Ghanbar Bakhtiar Panjeei Bakhtiar Mina Kavani Zara Narjes Delaram Ghanbar’s Mother Reza Heydari Reza Javad Siyahi Jacob Yousef Soleymani Jacob’s Uncle Amir Davar Solduz Darya Alei Gozal Rahim Abbasi Villager Sinan Yusufoglu Sinan Ehsan Ahmad Khanpour Kid Iman Bazyar Soldier Aliye Tuzun Police (as Aliye Tüzün)
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2022
Directed by Jafar Panahi.
Saturday, June 29, 2024
Late Spring
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Chishū Ryū Shukichi Somiya Setsuko Hara Noriko Somiya Yumeji Tsukioka Aya Kitagawa Haruko Sugimura Masa Taguchi Hohi Aoki Katsuyoshi Taguchi Jun Usami Shuichi Hattori Kuniko Miyake Akiko Miwa Masao Mishima Jo Onodera Yoshiko Tsubouchi Kiku Onodera Yōko Katsuragi Misako Toyoko Takahashi Shige Jun Tanizaki Seizo Hayashi
Yôko Benisawa played the Teahouse Proprietess, who figured prominently in the film.
On November 18, 2019, Wael Khairy wrote this meditation on the films of Yasujirō Ozu. If you have a high appreciation of Ozu's work you might find it interesting to read.
One of Roger Ebert's Great Movies.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1949
Directed by Yasujirō Ozu.
Labels: chishū-ryū, Criterion8, dramaG, film-art2, yasujirō-ozu
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
American Splendor
- Who's watched: M & G, both more than once
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: My relationship with Harvey Pekar began through a former boyfriend of mine who was a rabid fan of his comics. He introduced me to the wonderful world of adult comics, but, more than that, he was sure I would have an affinity for American Splendor. He was right. He is also long dead as I write this, but, when I watch this movie, I imagine him looking over my shoulder approvingly and say, "I knew this was movie material! I knew they'd make a movie of it!" He did. And he was right.
Mom 'caught' me watching this the afternoon I purchased it when she was napping. I was surprised that she was as seduced by it as I am. I think his character displays a sensibility that she learned well during her young-to-middle adult years, having been born in 1917.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Paul Giamatti Harvey Pekar Hope Davis Joyce Brabner Judah Friedlander Toby Radloff James Urbaniak Robert Crumb
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up for this film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini.
Labels: animated, biography2, dramedy2, female-director1, film-art2, hope-davis, me-favorite4, paul-giamatti
Sunday, May 08, 2022
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This movie is one of a trilogy of graphic expeditions. You can read more about the trilogy and the individual films at the link provided. They are visually provocative to watch. I've seen all three at least once, own two, and I can't say that the films provoke within me what the Navajo words that entitle each episode 'mean'. This has its frenetic moments but it is so well put together that when you have just about had enough visual speed, it slows down and your mind begins to make sense of what it's seeing, again.
Of the two we own Mom stayed with this one the longest. She had absolutely no patience for the second one, Powaqqatsi.
Of the three, this one is my favorite. It is like an animated coffee table book that makes you think and feel. Of the three it is the most active.
Update 5/8/22: This post was originally published on 2/7/2005, but I accidentally deleted it a few days ago. Now, it's back, in its original glory.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1982
Directed by Godfrey Reggio.
Labels: dream2, film-art2, me-favorite4, political4, spectacle2
Friday, March 09, 2007
After Life
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1**2*
- Commentary: Again, another movie in which the "mentions" say it all; except for an update: We've watched this movie a couple more times since I purchased it. Each time, I question Mom on her one preferred memory. Each time, she comes up with a variety of memories but still can't decide which she'd keep and which she'd allow to be blocked.
One other thing: I noticed, when I received our purchased copy, which came in a DVD case with, you know, the usual info sleeve, that my interpretation of the movie, that one relives their chosen memory for eternity, is exactly the way the sellers of the movie to the U.S. interpret it. Here is the specific part of the cover blurb: "With the help of dedicated caseworkers, each soul is given three days to choose one cherished memory from their life that they will relive for eternity." Interesting that the English subtitles for the movie don't exactly explain this. Makes me wish I was fluent in Japanese, so I could tell if the original script for the movie suggests this. I wonder if this interpretation is strictly a U.S. cultural interpretation or if the movie is meant to communicate this and does so in the Japanese dialogue. Comments in regard to this mystery from anyone who is fluent in both Japanese and English would be welcome.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Arata Takashi Mochizuki Erika Oda Shiori Satonaka Susumu Terajima Satoru Kawashima Taketoshi Naito Ichiro Watanabe Takashi Naito Takuro Sugie Hisako Hara Kiyo Nishimura Kei Tani Kennosuke Nakamura Kisuke Shoda Toru Yuri Kazuko Shirakawa Nobuko Amano Yūsuke Iseya Yusuke Iseya Sayaka Yoshino Kana Yoshino Kotaro Shiga Kenji Yamamoto Kyōko Kagawa Kyoko Watanabe Natsuo Ishidô Young Kyoko Watanabe Sadao Abe Ichiro Watanabe Tomomi Hiraiwa Receptionist
Here's the link to the Wikipedia write-up of this movie.
Release Date: 1998
Directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda.
Labels: drama8, dream1, fantasy2, film-art2, haunting2, shared-favorite, spiritual1
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Waking Life
- Who's watched: G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: Now, this is my idea of a comedy! I laughed and laughed all the way through this thing, and then was stunned at the end! I never think to watch this movie when Mom's awake. I don't know if she'd like it or not. She surprised me with her devotion to My Dinner with Andre so, you never know. If she ever sees it, I'll be sure to report.
Roger Ebert reviewed this movie twice. His initial review is linked in the title to this post. He reviewed it again when he christened it as one of his Great Movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Wiley Wiggins protagonist Eamonn Healy self Ethan Hawke self Richard Linklater self
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2001
Directed by Richard Linklater.
Labels: animated, dream1, fantasy3, film-art2, me-favorite3, pseudo-cgi-animation, satire2
My Dinner with Andre
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is one of my all time favorite movies. I treated MCS to this movie (showing at the Valley Art in Tempe, AZ) and dinner, I think, when the movie first came out in 1981. We were both mesmerized by it. I have seen it several times since and never fail to fall under the spell of these two guys sitting at dinner and talking. The waiter is magical, although I didn't really appreciate his performance and character until my second viewing. I searched for this movie for a long time in widescreen format DVD and have as yet been unsuccessful in locating it. In the meantime, I have this version, the only version fit for U.S. consumption of which I know.
Mom was enchanted by this movie, as well, the first time she saw it, even though it has no captioning. When I purchased it (I got a deal) a couple of weeks ago, she had trouble with it, primarily because of the lack of captions. Could be she needs an ear cleaning, again.
Yes, I checked in with Roger Ebert on this movie. He loved it at least as much as me, and wrote two reviews, the first a regular review and the second, one of his Great Movie reviews. Frankly, I would have been disappointed in him if he hadn't considered it a "Great Movie".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role André Gregory Andre Wallace Shawn Wally Jean Lenauer waiter Roy Butler bartender Cindy Adkins hatcheck girl
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1981
Directed by Louis Malle.
Labels: buddy, dramaB, film-art2, haunting2, shared-favorite
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
Monday, February 07, 2005
Powaqqatsi
- Who's watched: M (about a quarter) & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: This is the frenetic one of the trilogy. I stayed with it out of obligation. Mom did not. Throughout, it reminded me of an abstract The Two Towers. Neither Mom nor I had the patience for that one, either, but stayed with it so that we could say we'd watched it all.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by Godfrey Reggio.
Labels: film-art2, political4, spectacle2
