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Reviews
Full Metal Jacket (1987)
grim, funny and real
I've viewed this many times since 1987, and each time it's absurdist, pessimistic view of the military machine seems more up to date. You could easily set this in Iraq: military training that dehumanizes; there is the U.S. Marine killing of civilians from the air; a suicide attack on a U.S. base; a young fanatical sniper; a disguised roadside bomb; unwilling allies; the uselessness of high-tech weapons when a war is reduced to street fighting; even the shooting of a prisoner - all chillingly familiar on the news. As the American Empire slowly wanes this film was one of it's pointers. Once again Kubrick predicted the future as in "2001" and a "Clockwork Orange" and "Dr. Strangelove". An amazing experience.
Breaking the Waves (1996)
Hated it, hated it, hated it.
What a demoralizing experience. Von Trier's monkeying around with audience expectations, and his Brechtian distancing techniques - choppy editing, hand-held camera, digitalized landscape chapter headings (it's only a film duh!)- only serves to wreck great performances and an interesting plot.I laughed at the ending it was so schmaltzy, which really wrecked everything that was set up before - we live in a hard, sadistic world but miracles can happen (huh?). Von Trier seemed to hate Emily Watson, putting her through the mill even more than Tarantino did with Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill". The religious symbolism was heavy handed e.g. Emily Watson dressed like a whore being stoned by village children, a reference to Mary Magdalene stoned but saved by Christ. Here however the village priest leaves her like a lump of garbage. Thanks Lars for ladling that one on. I think this was the start of his "dogma" obsession which has meant that his films are becoming progressively more art-school, amateurish and heavy handed. It's like he's on his pulpit telling us how the world is, which is, ironically, what he accuses the religious killjoys in the film for doing. Boo hiss Lars.
The Ebony Tower (1984)
Waste of Talent
Boring, puerile tale of a young writer sent to interview a successful wealthy artist (Olivier) at his country estate in France. One of Olivier's more unfortunate films - he is hammy without the fun (not a patch on "Sleuth" or "Marathon Man"). As the "great" artist he gets to pontificate about art in running undergraduate monologues, which include every cliché about artists in film. This is not Olivier's fault, I fear, but Fowles', who likes to write about callow young men who learn the meaning of life from some great older man (e.g. "The Magus"). The scenery is stunning, as is Greta Scacchi - it must have been in her contract at this time that she had to drop her gear in every role (as in "White Mischief", which at least was heaps of fun). Watch for the straight-faced, but unintentionally hilarious recreation of Manet's "Breakfast on the Grass" with 80's pop star Toyah Wilcox. Could have been good if it had even a grain of wit or some real drama. For a film that explores similar territory - but brilliantly - try Alain Resnais' film "Providence". DUD.
Lèvres de sang (1975)
A Surreal Bizarre Treat
This is my first Rollin film - and I loved it. Gloriously silly and surreal, I detect many sly references to Bunuel (the boring cocktail party) and Fellini (the cold empty beach like the apocalyptic end to 'La Dolce Vita' - did Spielberg get his floating coffins in 'Empire of the Sun' from this???). The nubile vampires are so unscary and unerotic - they look more like hungry fashion models with a penchant for nasal fairy dust. Who did the hero's hair - Leonard of London? - let's bring back the male bouffant! I think he got that knitted top with the zipper up front after seeing Pink Floyd 'Live at Pompeii'. There are so many great moments - like where the photographer turns at the sound of the doorbell - before it actually rings. What did this mean? Precognition? Bad acting? Who cares. I actually saw this on SBS TV (free to air - unedited). Thankyou SBS - a gem.