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Reviews
Szindbád (1971)
A visual masterpiece and more...
I've just recently discovered this gem of the Hungarian cinema on the Second Run DVD series (many "lost" and recently restored excellent films,especially of the Eastern Europe,can be found there).It's a feast for one's eyes and mind.A visual masterpiece of rare beauty,full of philosophical thoughts about love,the meaning of life and death.The story is about a man looking back on his life,remembering many women he once loved and now,at the end of his life road, trying to come to terms with his own past.It is a slow movie,with lots of flashbacks of beautiful women,gorgeous places and landscapes,fine interiors and effective music.Not to be missed by the true lovers of good art-house cinema.Highly recommended!
La luna (1979)
A Masterpiece!
I don't know why almost everyone writing about this movie talks about "Oedipus complex", "Freudian influence" and similar crap.Nobody pays attention to an enormous sacrifice done to her son's well being by the world-wide famous opera singer!The incest scene shows clearly that Caterina does it not because she feels sexual attraction to her son (to think so to my mind is highly stupid!), but because she wants to save her only child from his drug hell, to give him a bit of love that he missed all the time while she was busy with her singing career. She sacrifices everything - her singing, her career,her peace of mind for WHOM?! Her drug addicted son,nonentity, a piece of junk.Why? She left her egoistic husband in order to sing,but life prepared for her one more tragic obstacle.The end of the movie is a real catharsis - Jill Clayburgh's character acquires holiness in her sacrifice to her son.Finally she returns to her profession when Joe is saved and his real father comes to terms with his former family.A superb film by one of the greatest film-makers of our time.
Nashville (1975)
Not a masterpiece,for sure.
I bought this DVD a long time ago and didn't watch it,waiting for a fine evening for such a highly rated and praised movie.What a great disappointment it was! After watching a real masterpiece "Three women" and several very good films of Altman, like "Images","McNabe and Mrs.Miller","That cold day in the park", this piece of poor film making has stolen three hours of my time actually spent for nothing!I don't understand so many positive reviews about the movie which simply doesn't deserve this.Those calling it "a masterpiece" most probably have never seen real masterpieces on the screen.Otherwise it's very difficult to explain calling this schlock "a masterpiece" so easily.Overlong,poorly directed and greatly overrated film.
3 Women (1977)
Altman at his best.
One of the best movies I've ever seen.It's closeness to Bergman's "Persona" is strongly felt,though both films are very individual pieces of art of two very different artists.It's a movie that leaves you thinking about it long after you finished watching it.One of it's strongest sides is a wonderful music that comes back to my mind every time I think about the film's disturbing images.The acting is excellent,especially by Spacek and Duvall and the operator's work is gorgeous. The film is about two common,mediocre,untalented(one,Millie,pretentious and pathetic and another one,Pinky,a grown-up infant who needs constant support and care)young women doing simple jobs in the Old Men's House(this is what they know and can do)and much older,quiet,reclusive but gifted artist Willie who paints beautiful murals describing strange male and female creatures in violent and sexual acts.I think these paintings are the key to understanding what kind of psychological relations Willie has with the outer world.This explains her estrangement and almost total silence during the film,giving preference to her wordless expression in an artful manner of her inner state and attitude towards the world.Actually this silent woman fells as a victim to the three other main characters - first losing her unfaithful,hard drinking friend-husband(?) Edgar as both Millie and then "new" Pinky in turn sleep with him(though both know very well that Willie is expecting a child)and then her baby when Pinky having been sent to call a doctor,just watches indifferently(this indifference is especially strongly felt after the Millie's "bloody" slap) as Millie is hopelessly trying to help Willie and finally fails. The ultimate expression of this unbearable cruelty of being is the dead-born baby,who "refuses to be born alive" into such a world.The end is open to interpretations:it may be easy to understand why Edgar could have been killed by Willie(though it is never revealed who did it),but it would be strange to discover that it is Pinky and Millie who actually did it(NOBODY FORCED them to sleep with Edgar and cause pain to Willie!). Love,depression,envy(What does Pinky think when she watches Willie painting?),psychological violence and hidden hatred are all interrelated in this superb human drama of an exceptionally talented film director.If you like cinema as an art,you won't regret watching it.Highly recommended.
Banshun (1949)
Be ready for sad thoughts
This is an excellent Japanese drama by one of its greatest directors.The story is quite simple but directed masterfully and leaves you thinking for a long time after the watching.I just want to comment on one aspect which seems to me very important for better understanding of the movie and which hasn't been tackled upon yet by other viewers.I don't think that the father's only concern about his daughter is her just getting married.It is especially seen in the scene where he is talking about the issue with a woman in the bar at the end of the film.There is some feeling of selfish future plans on both sides while they smile and talk to each other.I think that Noriko felt it,too, but couldn't go against her father's will.This is something that is not stated clearly,but rather hinted by certain phrases,looks,smiles and emotions. Highest recommendations.A true gem!
Goya's Ghosts (2006)
Could be better!
I totally agree with those comments that don't give more than 4-5 stars to this movie.It's really mediocre and in no way reach the best works of Milos Forman like Amadeus,One Flew Over the Cockoos Nest or even Valmont.I had the feeling all the time while watching the movie that Forman can't finally decide about what or whom he is making his work.I would change the title of the movie which seems to me unsuitable and misleading here. Unfortunately Mr Forman joins the great majority of the best film directors that have been in creative crisis for a long time.This can can be said about Wim Wenders,Emir Kusturica,Francois Ozon,Pedro Almodovar,Peter Greenaway,Wong Kar Way.