2011 represents a kind of tipping point for me and my appreciation of the art of film, which is to say, for some reason a switch was tripped roughly a year ago, and I have been tunnelling deeper and deeper into the cinema. This list is only films I've seen this year, in any format, from any year. The fact is that I still only get out the theater 4-6 times a year, so most of my viewing is done by myself at home. I have managed to build a decent collection of Criterion and other dvds, and have recently begun to discover the treasure trove of classic films that is Youtube. An $8 Netflix subscription and TCM on the PVR, and any other source I can think of means that the opportunity to see a great number of films is better than it has ever been. So I`ve watched a lot, and I`m up to do a list, just for kicks, as I`ve never done it before. Thanks to MUBI and the people I follow there, as they have ``leant`` me more knowledge and guided me without knowing it to a place I should have found years ago.....anyway, I`m grateful that this has turned out this way. Here we go........
Claire`s Knee (Le Genou De Claire) (1970) Eric Rohmer
(Youtube) 106 mins
Just began my trip through Rohmer`s `` Six Moral Tales`` this past weekend with the two titles in the middle. This will be a recurring theme throughout this list, but why did I wait so long?!! A terrific examination of human desire and weakness which could easily have become creepy, considering the fact that a man and a 16 year old girl and their flirtation are central to the story. Rohmer steps right with this material all the way through. I began watching and realized a little ways in that this is an astounding film. Patient, honest, well written and acted. Rohmer takes a mature view of things, and it may be that the surprise is due to having been reared on hackneyed, cliched takes on similiar subject matter by any number of directors for far too long. Along with " My Night At Maud's", this is grown up material and simply great filmmaking. 4 more titles in the series, can't wait!
The Tree Of Life (2011) Terence Malick
(Blu-Ray DVD) 138 mins
Interesting reaction in my house. I loved this film, my wife not so much, which adds to my interest (not that I didn't want her to like it. I was disappointed that she didn't share my enthusiasm, but it made me think about why). For me, it brought to mind the childhood experience of growing up under the wide open prairie sky, laying on my back in summer, gazing up at that sky and wondering "what, what, what is this?........What are we?.......What are we doing here?.......No answers, and possibly more questions, but grateful for the reminder. Not to mention the look of the film, as Malick once again creates a world of intense beauty, both visually and through very spare dialogue. I like a director who leaves room for breath and audience contemplation without boring us all to death. A great filmmaker, and one of the best films I've seen, this year or any other. By the way, it was the "dinosaur" sequence where my wife lost any affection, and I do lament the fact that I didn't discuss her feelings in more depth. Oh well, along with seeing many great movies, I am also learning how to savour them, rail against them, and discuss them in more depth. See "The Tree Of Life" so we can do just that.
Pigs And Battleships (Buta To Gunkan) (1962) Shohei Imamura
(Criterion DVD) 108 mins
Part of the "Pigs, Pimps, and Prostitutes" Criterion box, this was my first foray into the world of Shohei Imamura, a former Ozu apprentice, who went on to make films in a very different style, at least due in part to his hatred of Ozu and his style. This is quite simply a masterpiece of Japanese and world cinema. Frenetic, cartoonish, yet deeply serious in it's own way, the story of 2 young lovers in post war Japan flows beautifully from start to finish. Shot in beautiful black and white Cinemascope, the look of the film adds to the allure of the examination of these lives. It's got a little bit of everything, including the pigs and battleships of the title. And oh those pigs......Seek this and see it. I will check back when I have seen "Insect Woman" and "Intentions of Murder" and more of Imamura's work.
The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups) (1959) Francois Truffaut
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 99 mins
Antoine Doinel instantly became one of my favourite characters in all movies after seeing this Truffaut masterpiece. It feels like documentary, which fits with the autobiographical aspect, but it is also great as a story of a boy and his distracted, yet loving parents, and the tragic or maybe not so tragic path of young Antoine. There is one scene in particular, near the end, where Antoine is being questioned by a woman at the reform school, and I just sat quiet and still and tried to absorb every detail of the scene, The young Antoine shifting, the camera locked on him as he attempts to answer her questions. Incredible. Also the scene from the rooftop as the gym class is followed and drop off to play hooky a couple at a time until there are almost none left. This to me is genius, and Truffaut is one of my favourites. This should lead to a few more of his films about Antoine Doinel later on. Great, great film.
The Double Life Of Veronique (La Double Vie De Veronique) (1991) Krzysztof Kieslowski
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 98 mins
One of my dearest Criterion pick ups this year. The "Three Colours Trilogy" is next (look for "Bleu" on this list), and my love for Kieslowski grows with each film. A beautiful film about Veronique and Weronika, both played by the lovely Irene Jacob. Slawomir Idziak’s cinematography lends the film it's dreamy,, colourful feel and leaves one to simply contemplate love, life, beauty and identity. A little sad maybe, but hard to forget.
Three Colors: Blue (Troi Couleurs: Bleu) (1993) Krzysztof Kieslowski
(DVD - Three Colors Trilogy) 98 mins
The only film I've written a review for on Mubi. The review stinks, the movie does not. The performance by Juliette Binoche is simply jaw dropping. A moving study of a woman dealing with great personal tragedy and a rather significant case of adding insult to injury after the loss of her husband and daughter in a car accident. Observing as she sleepwalks through life, attempting to feel something, perhaps anything, is mesmerizing. I already was fond of Juliette Binoche, but this raised my admiration to new heights. Still have the other two in the trilogy to get to, and "Decalogue" at some point.
To Be Or Not To Be (1942) Ernst Lubitsch
(Youtube) 99 mins
This will not be the only Lubitsch title on this list, but I have seen it most recently and may have to say it's the best Lubitsch film I have seen to date. To think only of the risk of doing material like this as WWII was going on is to marvel at what was accomplished. Add to that the fact that it is genuinely funny, has Carole Lombard in it (Her last role, as it turned out. She died tragically in a plane crash shortly afterward), and is fairly swimming in "The Lubitsch touch", this is one to seek out and watch more than once.
Kuroneko (Yabu No Naka No Kuroneko) (1968) Kaneto Shindo
(Pacific Cinematheque) 99 mins
An arresting opening sequence that stayed with me long after the film was over, beautiful images of savage human behaviour, an erotic feel to the whole film (Noticed this in "Onibaba", another Shindo film I saw this year), and ghosts and a black cat. Great atmosphere and nice to see it on a big theater screen with my friends Steve and Kristian.
Design For Living (1933) Ernst Lubitsch
(Youtube) 91 mins
As I said, Ernst Lubitsch will feature prominently on this list. An amazing pre-code romp with Miriam Hopkins, Gary Cooper, and Fredric March inhabiting 3 parts of a love triangle. From the wordless opening sequence to the three speaking in French to each other until they realize they are all American, this film never steps wrong. Lubitsch, along with Ben Hecht and Noel Coward, has created a seamless, funny, heartfelt trip from start to finish. Though I have yet to embrace Gary Cooper as an actor, he did not detract from the overall here, and Hopkins and March are magical. An acknowledged masterpiece of cinema, this was one that more than lived up to my expectations. Hail Mr Lubitsch (And thanks to Bob Regan at Mubi for being a trustworthy, generous, and skillful guide, not just with Lubitsch, but many classic films). Speaking of classic films, particularly from the pre-code era...........
Safe In Hell (1931) William Wellman
(Turner Classic Movies) 73 mins
First, a mention of the great entity that is TCM. A regular old TV channel, but not like any other regular old TV channel. They have flaws, certainly, but these are minor quibbles really, when measured against the value of having a resource like this at hand on regular TV. This film, without TCM, would not have been on my radar, and that would have been a shame. Dorothy Mackaill is gorgeous and tough as a prostitute waiting on her man ( in the company of one of the most authentically greasy collection of low-lifes ever portrayed on film.) after fleeing New Orleans to avoid the police. One of the best ensemble supporting casts I've ever seen. These guys, in this setting (essentially an island prison), all lusting after Mackaill, are truly priceless. I'll be back in a moment, I just had a thought to check Youtube to see if this is available. Find it, watch it, and rejoice in your discovery.
The Marriage Of Maria Braun (Die Ehe Der Maria Braun) (1979) Rainer Werner Fassbinder
(Criterion DVD - Part 1 of the BRD Trilogy) 120 mins
Another highlight of discovery for me in a year full of wonderful things, Fassbinder and Hanna Schygulla together bring Maria Braun to life, a walking contradiction, partly truth, and partly fiction, to steal a line from an old Kristofferson song. A sensual, measured performance by Schygulla, a beautiful, sexy woman who inhabits Maria fully, asking not for pity, but respect on her own terms. She is eminently capable of loving, and being in love, and it is this truth that drives her on through sorrow and disappointment. I love this film because it touched something in me without asking judgement, only the time and attention required to observe the story and it's people, and because I too, fell in love with Maria Braun.
Super 8 (2011) J.J. Abrams
(Silvercity Coquitlam) 112 mins
I'll be honest here, though I enjoyed this very much, it made the list mostly to satisfy some weird need of mine to include the few movies I actually saw in theaters during the year. That in mind, I include this also because it worked in the way I think it should have, as a big screen summer movie to see with the family. We all three enjoyed it and yes, it was nostalgiac for a certain type of movie, but also a certain time (I remember the summer of 1979 very well, it was good for me), and it captures that time and those movies nicely. It's not high art, and I suppose we have quite diminished expectations for this kind of film at this point in history, so it's easy to sneer at it's sentimental vibe, but I liked that it gave us characters instead of celebrities playing cardboard cutouts, and let the young actors be good as those characters. The story and special effects were standard stuff, but again, well handled. A good time at the movies.
Midnight In Paris (2011) Woody Allen
(Silvercity Coquitlam) 94 mins
As cinematic love letters to city's go, this was a delight. Woody has a nice time showing us his Paris and a city and era that I would love to have visited. It's this notion, and the way Allen takes us so wholly into that Paris, that holds the film's greatest charms for me. Well, that and Marion Cotillard anyway. She is a treasure here, and Owen Wilson finds the right place with his character, a somewhat successful writer trying to draw inspiration in a Paris that he alone can imagine. The two threads, the here and now and the roaring 20's, weave nicely together, and though it is the 20's fantasy that interests me most, we need the Wilson characters wife and in-laws as counterpoint. This could have been weak, but the acting and writing are terrific. Allen seems to be relaxed and enjoying himself here, and it shows. A charmer, and definitely worth a look.
Tokyo Story (Tokyo Monogatari) (1953) Yasujiro Ozu
(Criterion DVD) 136 mins
44 years old and just getting to this. Shameful. Though it also seems the ideal time in my life to have seen it, and I will remain eternally grateful for having seen it at all, and will come back to it again. One of the true masterpieces in the history of world cinema, I can avow that it was everything I hoped it would be. Ozu, the master of measured, soulful examination, here shows us a family, not unlike yours or mine (it occurs to me that one of the simple joys of discovering and watching films from other countries is the realization that we are not nearly as different as we might think. If we want to teach our kids tolerance and understanding, we could do worse than show them films by Ozu and Miyazaki, to name just a couple), and it's interactions and reactions to the events that touch their lives. Simple, yes, and if I tried to sell most people I know on Tokyo Story, or any Ozu film for that matter, it would be easy. Let's see, how about we sit down and watch a black and white, Japanese movie with English subtitles that runs a little over 2 hours, which involves a succession of scenes involving people talking, or listening while others speak, while seated on tatami mats. Oh, and the director moves the camera exactly one time in the entire 2 hours, about 15 feet. And yet, to simply sit and absorb the joy that is the above is nearly indescribable, once you've done it. Ozu gently walks along the way with this family, who are selfish, silly, happy, sad, hopeful, regretful, and everything else a family is, just like yours and mine. Above all though, it is possibly the best, most lyrical portrait of the relationship between parents and children I have ever seen. If you are a parent of children, or the children of parents, you will find a bit of yourself in here, and it will be just a part of the reward for having watched this film.
Playtime (1967) Jaques Tati
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 124 mins
My dear friend Murray Thorn called this the weirdest movie he'd ever seen, and it got me thinking about how conditioned we are to movies "being" a certain way. Plot, character, editing, music, etc, all have become standardized to the point where Murray may just have shut off any chance to enjoy this because he has been programmed the other way for too long. Art is always a subjective thing, we all like what we like I guess. But to narrow your scope is to miss out on things like Playtime, a visually stunning, endlessly inventive film by the great Jaques Tati. No, it does not have anything resembling a tidy plot, and contains virtually no dialogue, but at every moment you come to expect some kind of visual treat, and Tati's character, as he moves jittery and somewhat befuddled through Paris, embodies our own confusion as we navigate this insane world. The world Tati creates here is modern, slick and cold, and it works as a harbinger as well (take a look around at the world now). Those of us with a more tenuous grip on "progress" will find much here to identify with, as will those who just like great cinematography. The Blu-Ray was, I think, the best way other than the theater to have seen this. The wonderful folks at Criterion deserve praise for much of their work, but this film is a particularly nice presentation.
The Music Room (Jalsaghar) (1958) Satyajit Ray
(Criterion DVD - From Port Moody library) 100 mins
The first Ray film I have seen, and a thank you to the library in Port Moody for keeping such a nice collection of films on their shelves. A melancholy, beautiful meditation on pride, age, loneliness, and human dignity. It is a great performance by Chhabai Biswas that centers the film, as we observe him attempting to cling to the last shreds of a life that no longer exists in India, with a stubborn, prideful nonchalance at times. Resentful of his younger, more ambitious neighbour, and nostalgic for a time that belonged to him and those of his class, he slowly ambles into the long dark night. The small details and excellent cinematography make this a treat for the eyes, but it is the human tale, and this man's life, that ultimately leaves the most lasting impression. A duly proclaimed masterpiece, this will be on one of my next two Criterion orders.
La Bete Humaine (1938) Jean Renoir
(Turner Classic Movies) 96 mins
Jean Gabin pushed this from a 4.5 to a 5 star rating for me, with one of the most naturally fierce performances I can remember. The great Jean Renoir sets us up with this brutish but sensitive man and allows us to watch as he is tormented by things he cannot get ahold of. Simone Simon works as the beauty opposite Gabin's beast, and Renoir manages to stir us with the direction. I picked it up on dvd as a result of the viewing on TCM.
The Long Goodbye (1973) Robert Altman
(Netflix) 112 mins
Here we have Robert Altman's Philip Marlowe, as played by Elliott Gould, which I had seen years ago, but hadn't retained very well, obviously, because I was struck dumb at how good this was. It just kind of unfolds in front of you, and by the time Marlowe tries to pass off inferior food to his brilliant cat by shoveling it into the empty can of the cat's regular brand, you will be hooked. Or should be, anyway. I was. Greatly. It has Altman trademarks like the overlapping dialogue and characters who may or may not be important, but at it's heart lies the Gould performance. His Elliott Gouldness is dialled down just a touch, and it makes him a bit more likeable for me. Not that I don't like him but, oh, nevermind. The plot is fine as detective stories go, but watch Gould move through this film, and watch for Sterling hayden in a nice supporting role. One of Altman's best, of the ones I've seen so far.
Kes (1969) Ken Loach
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 110 mins
A very gritty portrayal of working class life in Britain, and a great performance by the young David Bradley, as a boy who finds some small peace and happiness through his training of a kestrel hawk that he captures. The scene where he excitedly explains to his classmates his connection to and understanding of this bird, ranks as one of my favourite film moments of 2011. Wonderful film.
My Night At Maud's (Ma Nuit Chez Maud's) (1969) Eric Rohmer
(Youtube) 111 mins
Masterful observation of a man's moral obligations to himself and God, in the face of the temptations he faces in his earthly life. My second foray into Rohmer's Six Moral tales, and I can't wait to see them all, and more of his films after that. This, in suitable black and white, and wonderfully shot ( the early driving scene is a particular highlight), places temptation, in the form of the beautiful, sexually alive and welcoming Maud ( Francoise Fabian), and the lovely young Francoise (Marie Christine Barrault), and leaves him to consider all of it. The proper, buttoned down life of kids and marriage and fidelity, and the bachelor's free form excursions into what happens between consenting adults, both paths are open to him. Lyrical, gentle, thoughtful and absorbing.
And that's the 20 whittled down, in no particular order, for this year. I think my greatest pleasure this year has been discovery on a grand scale, and though I am late to the game, I feel a natural compulsion, growing into an obsession, to delve ever further into the vast history of cinema. More Japanese films, More Polish films, more Spanish films, more Russian, Scandinavian, Chinese, Swedish, German, Italian, South and Central American, Thai, Korean, American, Canadian, Iranian, Greek, and anywhere else offering something that catches my eye. There really has never been a better time to be a lover of movies, as far as access is concerned, and I will continue happily watching in the dark, and documenting my impressions when the lights come up.
Claire`s Knee (Le Genou De Claire) (1970) Eric Rohmer
(Youtube) 106 mins
Just began my trip through Rohmer`s `` Six Moral Tales`` this past weekend with the two titles in the middle. This will be a recurring theme throughout this list, but why did I wait so long?!! A terrific examination of human desire and weakness which could easily have become creepy, considering the fact that a man and a 16 year old girl and their flirtation are central to the story. Rohmer steps right with this material all the way through. I began watching and realized a little ways in that this is an astounding film. Patient, honest, well written and acted. Rohmer takes a mature view of things, and it may be that the surprise is due to having been reared on hackneyed, cliched takes on similiar subject matter by any number of directors for far too long. Along with " My Night At Maud's", this is grown up material and simply great filmmaking. 4 more titles in the series, can't wait!
The Tree Of Life (2011) Terence Malick
(Blu-Ray DVD) 138 mins
Interesting reaction in my house. I loved this film, my wife not so much, which adds to my interest (not that I didn't want her to like it. I was disappointed that she didn't share my enthusiasm, but it made me think about why). For me, it brought to mind the childhood experience of growing up under the wide open prairie sky, laying on my back in summer, gazing up at that sky and wondering "what, what, what is this?........What are we?.......What are we doing here?.......No answers, and possibly more questions, but grateful for the reminder. Not to mention the look of the film, as Malick once again creates a world of intense beauty, both visually and through very spare dialogue. I like a director who leaves room for breath and audience contemplation without boring us all to death. A great filmmaker, and one of the best films I've seen, this year or any other. By the way, it was the "dinosaur" sequence where my wife lost any affection, and I do lament the fact that I didn't discuss her feelings in more depth. Oh well, along with seeing many great movies, I am also learning how to savour them, rail against them, and discuss them in more depth. See "The Tree Of Life" so we can do just that.
Pigs And Battleships (Buta To Gunkan) (1962) Shohei Imamura
(Criterion DVD) 108 mins
Part of the "Pigs, Pimps, and Prostitutes" Criterion box, this was my first foray into the world of Shohei Imamura, a former Ozu apprentice, who went on to make films in a very different style, at least due in part to his hatred of Ozu and his style. This is quite simply a masterpiece of Japanese and world cinema. Frenetic, cartoonish, yet deeply serious in it's own way, the story of 2 young lovers in post war Japan flows beautifully from start to finish. Shot in beautiful black and white Cinemascope, the look of the film adds to the allure of the examination of these lives. It's got a little bit of everything, including the pigs and battleships of the title. And oh those pigs......Seek this and see it. I will check back when I have seen "Insect Woman" and "Intentions of Murder" and more of Imamura's work.
The 400 Blows (Les Quatre Cents Coups) (1959) Francois Truffaut
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 99 mins
Antoine Doinel instantly became one of my favourite characters in all movies after seeing this Truffaut masterpiece. It feels like documentary, which fits with the autobiographical aspect, but it is also great as a story of a boy and his distracted, yet loving parents, and the tragic or maybe not so tragic path of young Antoine. There is one scene in particular, near the end, where Antoine is being questioned by a woman at the reform school, and I just sat quiet and still and tried to absorb every detail of the scene, The young Antoine shifting, the camera locked on him as he attempts to answer her questions. Incredible. Also the scene from the rooftop as the gym class is followed and drop off to play hooky a couple at a time until there are almost none left. This to me is genius, and Truffaut is one of my favourites. This should lead to a few more of his films about Antoine Doinel later on. Great, great film.
The Double Life Of Veronique (La Double Vie De Veronique) (1991) Krzysztof Kieslowski
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 98 mins
One of my dearest Criterion pick ups this year. The "Three Colours Trilogy" is next (look for "Bleu" on this list), and my love for Kieslowski grows with each film. A beautiful film about Veronique and Weronika, both played by the lovely Irene Jacob. Slawomir Idziak’s cinematography lends the film it's dreamy,, colourful feel and leaves one to simply contemplate love, life, beauty and identity. A little sad maybe, but hard to forget.
Three Colors: Blue (Troi Couleurs: Bleu) (1993) Krzysztof Kieslowski
(DVD - Three Colors Trilogy) 98 mins
The only film I've written a review for on Mubi. The review stinks, the movie does not. The performance by Juliette Binoche is simply jaw dropping. A moving study of a woman dealing with great personal tragedy and a rather significant case of adding insult to injury after the loss of her husband and daughter in a car accident. Observing as she sleepwalks through life, attempting to feel something, perhaps anything, is mesmerizing. I already was fond of Juliette Binoche, but this raised my admiration to new heights. Still have the other two in the trilogy to get to, and "Decalogue" at some point.
To Be Or Not To Be (1942) Ernst Lubitsch
(Youtube) 99 mins
This will not be the only Lubitsch title on this list, but I have seen it most recently and may have to say it's the best Lubitsch film I have seen to date. To think only of the risk of doing material like this as WWII was going on is to marvel at what was accomplished. Add to that the fact that it is genuinely funny, has Carole Lombard in it (Her last role, as it turned out. She died tragically in a plane crash shortly afterward), and is fairly swimming in "The Lubitsch touch", this is one to seek out and watch more than once.
Kuroneko (Yabu No Naka No Kuroneko) (1968) Kaneto Shindo
(Pacific Cinematheque) 99 mins
An arresting opening sequence that stayed with me long after the film was over, beautiful images of savage human behaviour, an erotic feel to the whole film (Noticed this in "Onibaba", another Shindo film I saw this year), and ghosts and a black cat. Great atmosphere and nice to see it on a big theater screen with my friends Steve and Kristian.
Design For Living (1933) Ernst Lubitsch
(Youtube) 91 mins
As I said, Ernst Lubitsch will feature prominently on this list. An amazing pre-code romp with Miriam Hopkins, Gary Cooper, and Fredric March inhabiting 3 parts of a love triangle. From the wordless opening sequence to the three speaking in French to each other until they realize they are all American, this film never steps wrong. Lubitsch, along with Ben Hecht and Noel Coward, has created a seamless, funny, heartfelt trip from start to finish. Though I have yet to embrace Gary Cooper as an actor, he did not detract from the overall here, and Hopkins and March are magical. An acknowledged masterpiece of cinema, this was one that more than lived up to my expectations. Hail Mr Lubitsch (And thanks to Bob Regan at Mubi for being a trustworthy, generous, and skillful guide, not just with Lubitsch, but many classic films). Speaking of classic films, particularly from the pre-code era...........
Safe In Hell (1931) William Wellman
(Turner Classic Movies) 73 mins
First, a mention of the great entity that is TCM. A regular old TV channel, but not like any other regular old TV channel. They have flaws, certainly, but these are minor quibbles really, when measured against the value of having a resource like this at hand on regular TV. This film, without TCM, would not have been on my radar, and that would have been a shame. Dorothy Mackaill is gorgeous and tough as a prostitute waiting on her man ( in the company of one of the most authentically greasy collection of low-lifes ever portrayed on film.) after fleeing New Orleans to avoid the police. One of the best ensemble supporting casts I've ever seen. These guys, in this setting (essentially an island prison), all lusting after Mackaill, are truly priceless. I'll be back in a moment, I just had a thought to check Youtube to see if this is available. Find it, watch it, and rejoice in your discovery.
The Marriage Of Maria Braun (Die Ehe Der Maria Braun) (1979) Rainer Werner Fassbinder
(Criterion DVD - Part 1 of the BRD Trilogy) 120 mins
Another highlight of discovery for me in a year full of wonderful things, Fassbinder and Hanna Schygulla together bring Maria Braun to life, a walking contradiction, partly truth, and partly fiction, to steal a line from an old Kristofferson song. A sensual, measured performance by Schygulla, a beautiful, sexy woman who inhabits Maria fully, asking not for pity, but respect on her own terms. She is eminently capable of loving, and being in love, and it is this truth that drives her on through sorrow and disappointment. I love this film because it touched something in me without asking judgement, only the time and attention required to observe the story and it's people, and because I too, fell in love with Maria Braun.
Super 8 (2011) J.J. Abrams
(Silvercity Coquitlam) 112 mins
I'll be honest here, though I enjoyed this very much, it made the list mostly to satisfy some weird need of mine to include the few movies I actually saw in theaters during the year. That in mind, I include this also because it worked in the way I think it should have, as a big screen summer movie to see with the family. We all three enjoyed it and yes, it was nostalgiac for a certain type of movie, but also a certain time (I remember the summer of 1979 very well, it was good for me), and it captures that time and those movies nicely. It's not high art, and I suppose we have quite diminished expectations for this kind of film at this point in history, so it's easy to sneer at it's sentimental vibe, but I liked that it gave us characters instead of celebrities playing cardboard cutouts, and let the young actors be good as those characters. The story and special effects were standard stuff, but again, well handled. A good time at the movies.
Midnight In Paris (2011) Woody Allen
(Silvercity Coquitlam) 94 mins
As cinematic love letters to city's go, this was a delight. Woody has a nice time showing us his Paris and a city and era that I would love to have visited. It's this notion, and the way Allen takes us so wholly into that Paris, that holds the film's greatest charms for me. Well, that and Marion Cotillard anyway. She is a treasure here, and Owen Wilson finds the right place with his character, a somewhat successful writer trying to draw inspiration in a Paris that he alone can imagine. The two threads, the here and now and the roaring 20's, weave nicely together, and though it is the 20's fantasy that interests me most, we need the Wilson characters wife and in-laws as counterpoint. This could have been weak, but the acting and writing are terrific. Allen seems to be relaxed and enjoying himself here, and it shows. A charmer, and definitely worth a look.
Tokyo Story (Tokyo Monogatari) (1953) Yasujiro Ozu
(Criterion DVD) 136 mins
44 years old and just getting to this. Shameful. Though it also seems the ideal time in my life to have seen it, and I will remain eternally grateful for having seen it at all, and will come back to it again. One of the true masterpieces in the history of world cinema, I can avow that it was everything I hoped it would be. Ozu, the master of measured, soulful examination, here shows us a family, not unlike yours or mine (it occurs to me that one of the simple joys of discovering and watching films from other countries is the realization that we are not nearly as different as we might think. If we want to teach our kids tolerance and understanding, we could do worse than show them films by Ozu and Miyazaki, to name just a couple), and it's interactions and reactions to the events that touch their lives. Simple, yes, and if I tried to sell most people I know on Tokyo Story, or any Ozu film for that matter, it would be easy. Let's see, how about we sit down and watch a black and white, Japanese movie with English subtitles that runs a little over 2 hours, which involves a succession of scenes involving people talking, or listening while others speak, while seated on tatami mats. Oh, and the director moves the camera exactly one time in the entire 2 hours, about 15 feet. And yet, to simply sit and absorb the joy that is the above is nearly indescribable, once you've done it. Ozu gently walks along the way with this family, who are selfish, silly, happy, sad, hopeful, regretful, and everything else a family is, just like yours and mine. Above all though, it is possibly the best, most lyrical portrait of the relationship between parents and children I have ever seen. If you are a parent of children, or the children of parents, you will find a bit of yourself in here, and it will be just a part of the reward for having watched this film.
Playtime (1967) Jaques Tati
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 124 mins
My dear friend Murray Thorn called this the weirdest movie he'd ever seen, and it got me thinking about how conditioned we are to movies "being" a certain way. Plot, character, editing, music, etc, all have become standardized to the point where Murray may just have shut off any chance to enjoy this because he has been programmed the other way for too long. Art is always a subjective thing, we all like what we like I guess. But to narrow your scope is to miss out on things like Playtime, a visually stunning, endlessly inventive film by the great Jaques Tati. No, it does not have anything resembling a tidy plot, and contains virtually no dialogue, but at every moment you come to expect some kind of visual treat, and Tati's character, as he moves jittery and somewhat befuddled through Paris, embodies our own confusion as we navigate this insane world. The world Tati creates here is modern, slick and cold, and it works as a harbinger as well (take a look around at the world now). Those of us with a more tenuous grip on "progress" will find much here to identify with, as will those who just like great cinematography. The Blu-Ray was, I think, the best way other than the theater to have seen this. The wonderful folks at Criterion deserve praise for much of their work, but this film is a particularly nice presentation.
The Music Room (Jalsaghar) (1958) Satyajit Ray
(Criterion DVD - From Port Moody library) 100 mins
The first Ray film I have seen, and a thank you to the library in Port Moody for keeping such a nice collection of films on their shelves. A melancholy, beautiful meditation on pride, age, loneliness, and human dignity. It is a great performance by Chhabai Biswas that centers the film, as we observe him attempting to cling to the last shreds of a life that no longer exists in India, with a stubborn, prideful nonchalance at times. Resentful of his younger, more ambitious neighbour, and nostalgic for a time that belonged to him and those of his class, he slowly ambles into the long dark night. The small details and excellent cinematography make this a treat for the eyes, but it is the human tale, and this man's life, that ultimately leaves the most lasting impression. A duly proclaimed masterpiece, this will be on one of my next two Criterion orders.
La Bete Humaine (1938) Jean Renoir
(Turner Classic Movies) 96 mins
Jean Gabin pushed this from a 4.5 to a 5 star rating for me, with one of the most naturally fierce performances I can remember. The great Jean Renoir sets us up with this brutish but sensitive man and allows us to watch as he is tormented by things he cannot get ahold of. Simone Simon works as the beauty opposite Gabin's beast, and Renoir manages to stir us with the direction. I picked it up on dvd as a result of the viewing on TCM.
The Long Goodbye (1973) Robert Altman
(Netflix) 112 mins
Here we have Robert Altman's Philip Marlowe, as played by Elliott Gould, which I had seen years ago, but hadn't retained very well, obviously, because I was struck dumb at how good this was. It just kind of unfolds in front of you, and by the time Marlowe tries to pass off inferior food to his brilliant cat by shoveling it into the empty can of the cat's regular brand, you will be hooked. Or should be, anyway. I was. Greatly. It has Altman trademarks like the overlapping dialogue and characters who may or may not be important, but at it's heart lies the Gould performance. His Elliott Gouldness is dialled down just a touch, and it makes him a bit more likeable for me. Not that I don't like him but, oh, nevermind. The plot is fine as detective stories go, but watch Gould move through this film, and watch for Sterling hayden in a nice supporting role. One of Altman's best, of the ones I've seen so far.
Kes (1969) Ken Loach
(Criterion Blu-Ray DVD) 110 mins
A very gritty portrayal of working class life in Britain, and a great performance by the young David Bradley, as a boy who finds some small peace and happiness through his training of a kestrel hawk that he captures. The scene where he excitedly explains to his classmates his connection to and understanding of this bird, ranks as one of my favourite film moments of 2011. Wonderful film.
My Night At Maud's (Ma Nuit Chez Maud's) (1969) Eric Rohmer
(Youtube) 111 mins
Masterful observation of a man's moral obligations to himself and God, in the face of the temptations he faces in his earthly life. My second foray into Rohmer's Six Moral tales, and I can't wait to see them all, and more of his films after that. This, in suitable black and white, and wonderfully shot ( the early driving scene is a particular highlight), places temptation, in the form of the beautiful, sexually alive and welcoming Maud ( Francoise Fabian), and the lovely young Francoise (Marie Christine Barrault), and leaves him to consider all of it. The proper, buttoned down life of kids and marriage and fidelity, and the bachelor's free form excursions into what happens between consenting adults, both paths are open to him. Lyrical, gentle, thoughtful and absorbing.
And that's the 20 whittled down, in no particular order, for this year. I think my greatest pleasure this year has been discovery on a grand scale, and though I am late to the game, I feel a natural compulsion, growing into an obsession, to delve ever further into the vast history of cinema. More Japanese films, More Polish films, more Spanish films, more Russian, Scandinavian, Chinese, Swedish, German, Italian, South and Central American, Thai, Korean, American, Canadian, Iranian, Greek, and anywhere else offering something that catches my eye. There really has never been a better time to be a lover of movies, as far as access is concerned, and I will continue happily watching in the dark, and documenting my impressions when the lights come up.
