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Reviews
Lolita (1997)
Vastly superior to ill-cast Kubrick version
This inspired version of Nabakov's book is miles ahead of the earlier version, which was miserably miscast with only one exception: Peter Sellers. Jeremy Irons here is all Humbert Humbert was meant to be, and not the stiff, unbelievable James Mason that dragged down the original film. And thank goodness Lolita is played by someone closer to the age of a nymphet: of course Hollywood has a problem with Lolita's age (here said to be 12), but after all, nymphets are prepubescent (Nabakov's definition, not mine). The book remains better than any film can be.
Léolo (1992)
Among my top 10 films
This bizarre, very black comedy is haunting and poignant, with many unanswered overtones and never-to-be-forgotten images - a masterpiece of filmmaking though sure to offend some by its choice of materials. The opening and closing scenes running under the titles and credits are as moving and inexplicable as one could imagine. I have seen it several times, and remain fascinated by the director's techniques and vision. It is said to be partly autobiographical on the part of the writer/director, but it is difficult to believe that ANYONE could have survived this childhood or this totally disfunctional family. It is clearly to be ranked among my favorite 10 films, very different from the first two on that list (DR. STRANGELOVE, and the ±1947 Ealing Studio's DEAD OF NIGHT). See this!.