Monthly Archives: April 2007

Three Colours: White (1994)

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aka Trzy kolory: Bialy / Trois couleurs: Blanc

2007 #41
Krzysztof Kieslowski | 87 mins | DVD | 15 / R

The second in the trilogy (see #39) features the idea of égalité/equality.

The lead character is a Polish immigrant who, at the start, is divorced by his French wife and, in a roundabout way, forced to return to Poland. The narrative follows an odd path toward an odd resolution; it’s also odd that a film about a basic French value is set mostly in Poland.

While it has its moments and is certainly intriguing, White comes out as inferior to Blue. I’m looking forward to what Red has in store.

4 out of 5

Three Colours: Blue (1993)

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aka Trois couleurs: Bleu

2007 #39
Krzysztof Kieslowski | 96 mins | DVD | 15 / R

The first in Kieslowski’s thematic trilogy based around the French flag and the values it represents.

Here it’s liberté/freedom, in this case brought about by the death of Julie’s husband and daughter in a car accident. In the lead role Juliette Binoche is the film and she carries it admirably, taking her character through a range of phases and emotions.

It takes a little time to get going but is worth it in the end (speaking of the end, it appears to have been an inspiration to films such as Donnie Darko and Magnolia).

4 out of 5

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

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2007 #38
David Frankel | 105 mins | DVD | PG / PG-13

The Devil Wears PradaEmily Blunt steals every scene, which is impressive alongside an Oscar-nominated Meryl Streep (that being the now-customary acting-nominee-from-a-blockbuster, est. 2004 by Mr Depp). Anne Hathaway provides the plot/emotional through-line against these performances, which is somewhat impressive when playing a lead character who morally sells out (albeit into a lifestyle that is undoubtedly desirable to the film’s intended audience).

The plot and character arcs may be pretty predictable, but it’s an above-average example of a film of this type.

4 out of 5

The New World (2005)

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2007 #37
Terrence Malick | 130 mins | DVD | 12 / PG-13

The New WorldSlowly paced and beautifully photographed, this is about as far from Disney’s telling of the story (in Pocahontas, of course) as you could get. This is not a bad thing, as the pace and photography combine to make for a serene unravelling of story and mood.

It only begins to wear a little thin around the time Christian Bale’s character turns up — sticking to the facts of a story, and in the process damaging the film, is sadly a regular flaw in real-life tales such as this.

I also loved the sound design, imbued as it was with the small sounds of nature, all creaking timber and rustling grass.

4 out of 5

Ladies in Lavender (2004)

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2007 #36
Charles Dance | 100 mins | DVD | 12 / PG-13

While You Were SleepingJudi Dench puts in her fourth appearance in this list (far and away the most represented actor, I should think) in Charles Dance’s first film as writer and director.

Dench and her long-time friend Maggie Smith play believable sisters in a beautiful Cornish setting who discover a young Pole washed up on their beach. The story progresses from there in a gentle but engrossing fashion, and the cast of experienced Brits are as excellent as ever.

4 out of 5

2007 | Week 14

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My quest to watch 100 films I’ve never seen before by the end of 2007 continues toward the halfway point. However, this week I’ve hit an exact average of three films per week — if that were to continue I’d easily pass 150 films by the end of the year! It’s really beginning to seem that 100 is a rather easy mark to cross, while 150 would be more realistic… though only if I kept this rate up, and if I slipped I would fail. That’s never fun.

So, my indecisiveness shall continue. Probably until I actually reach 100 and decide if there’s enough time to see another 50 films. Oh well, they say gambling’s bad anyway.

As noted last week (and above), week fourteen means we’re now over a quarter of the way through the year, and so on the path to the halfway point (which, by-the-way, would be about July 1st, which is the Sunday at the end of week twenty-six). I’m also still on holiday, so once again I’ve seen a fair few films this week, and six of them new to me. Here they are:

#36 Ladies in Lavender

#37 The New World

#38 The Devil Wears Prada

#39 Three Colours: Blue

#40 Happy Feet

#41 Three Colours: White

Happy Feet (2006)

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2007 #40
George Miller | 104 mins | DVD | U / PG

Happy FeetWhile it might not be in quite the same league as The Incredibles or Finding Nemo, this year’s Animated Oscar-winner does have a few things going for it.

There are a couple of enjoyable songs, a few exciting action sequences, and even some bits that actually make you laugh. Couple this with a positive (if improbable) pro-environment message, and an even better anti-religious one that’s only half-hidden, and you have an entertaining film for kids that grown-ups will find something in too.

4 out of 5

On Channel 5 today, Sunday 27th July 2014, at 4:55pm.

Secretary (2002)

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2007 #34
Steven Shainberg | 107 mins | DVD | 18 / R

SecretaryI seem to recall reading that Secretary attempts to depict a realistic and sympathetic dominant/submissive relationship. Unfortunately this seems to come a bit unstuck with the feeling that the relationship is initially based in an emotionally (and physically) abusive act against a clearly vulnerable character, leaving the following events and mutually loving resolution tinged with a hint of something akin to Stockholm Syndrome, in my opinion.

Well acted and all, but fundamentally flawed.

3 out of 5

2007 | Weeks 12-13 (Statistics)

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I knew I should have posted the not-too-short-really week twelve by itself, as week thirteen has seen a veritable mass of films viewed toward the end. But it’s done now, so on with the show!

The end of the second week here marks the exact quarter-way point of my filmic quest (in time terms anyway) and so it seems an appropriate point to reflect a little on my quest so far. So here are some numbers, all totalled up to the end of week thirteen:

Statistics

I have seen a total of 36 films.

Of those, 1 was released in the 1910s, 2 in the 1920s, 1 in the 1940s, 2 in the 1950s, 4 in the 1980s, 3 in the 1990s, and 23 in the 2000s. That means there’s nothing from the 1930s, 1960s or 1970s.

I have seen 27 on DVD, 6 at the cinema, 2 on VHS, and just 1 on TV.

The only directors to turn up multiple times are John Glen (twice) and F.W. Murnau (twice). As it turns out, a fair few actors turn up at least twice, mainly thanks to films like Hot Fuzz, Boogie Nights and Crash. It was only Roger Moore who managed several appearances when I first started putting these stats together!

I have awarded 4 films 5/5, 17 films 4/5, 10 films 3/5, 4 films 2/5, and 1 film 1/5. This makes the average score 3.5/5. Either I see lots of pretty good films or I need to adjust my scoring downward slightly. For anyone interested, the five-star films were Hot Fuzz, United 93, Crash and Trainspotting, whilst the one-star was Flight 93.

My weekly average is now 2.8 per week, which means I’m on course to see about 145 films this year. Maybe I should adjust that aim…

Weeks Twelve and Thirteen

Anyway, it’s time to get on. Here are the films I watched between March 19th and April 1st…

#25 Doom

#26 Flight 93

#27 Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

#27a Crash: Director’s Cut

#28 The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

#29 Trainspotting

#30 Little Miss Sunshine

#31 Mrs Henderson Presents

#32 Chocolat

#33 American Dreamz

#34 Secretary

#35 The King and I

The King and I (1956)

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2007 #35
Walter Lang | 128 mins | DVD | U / G

The King and ITo be fair to The King and I, I was a little sleepy through most of it, and, thanks to some slightly cheesy bits at the start, my mind was occasionally locked in a spoofing mode.

However, there are some recognisable songs and an Oscar-winning performance from Yul Brynner, as well as truly sumptuous sets and costumes.

3 out of 5

The King and I is on Film4 tomorrow, Monday 25th August 2014, at 2:40pm.