ctg2005 Reviews

Dark Horse (2011)

More of Solondz

[8/10 · 13 February 2013]

I almost watched every single Tod Solondz' movie, except "Fear, anxiety and depression". I firmly believe that he's one of the most sincere, provoking and profound movie directors of our time. He dares to tell audiences what life really is. Now "Dark horse" is said to be a dark comedy and it is, in some way. But I feel that in this particular case the comedic side loses space in favor of the tragic one. Darckness, lack of hope reign in this film. Solondz is quite explicit about it, especially in the last toy store scene, when Abe is told the truth about himself. At the end of the movie you see that Abe's life is a wasted one. Check the final scene, when Abe's father and cousin are discussing business details while the secretary is fantasizing about him. Check the cemetery scene where you see that even the date on his tombstone is wrong, like one of the most poignant moments of every man's life was meaningless. There is more: it's like Abe doesn't belong to the world of men where he should to. The only ones who grieve for him are women. But even so the guy is hopeless: he is wiped out the face of the hearth. Those are the reasons why I felt pleasantly disturbed by the film: there is no way out, what little hope shows up is useless. However, there are flaws, mister Solondz: first Selma Blair's performance is somehow dry: she does the right moves, she uses the right tones of voice but she is not very convincing. And there are too much statements: the characters are too explicit about their feelings. I think they should come out with more subtlety like they did in Happiness and Storytelling

Storia di una capinera (1993)

How to waist good writing

[7 January 2012]

It's pretty clear that all the people who praise this movie have NEVER EVER read one line from "Storia di una capinera", let alone the other works of Giovanni Verga. Zeffirelli has the gift to turn the most tragic stories into some sort of spineless romanticism. Just think of " Fratello sole, sorella luna" that sordid exploitation of one of the most tragic saints of the Christianity. Now Verga was anything except a romantic. His depiction of life is with no mercy or redemption whatsoever. Even when he chooses to put a romantic episode in one of his works, this one is doomed to failure, it crashes against the stone wall of the reality of life. No dreams allowed. It's true that Maria, the main character, cannot fulfill her dream of love in the feature, but Zeffirelli manages to transform the sharp realism of the original novel into a faded romanticism. And something about him casting Jonathon Scaech. I don't mean to tear down Scaech who's a beautiful man a and a talented actor, it's just I'm pretty sick of Zeffirelli, that dreadful hypocrite homophobic fag. People should know, some already do, that he uses to cast beautiful young unknown actors just to sleep with them. He did it with Bruce Robinson, Tom Cruise and J. S. Those who have seen "Withnail and I" the beautiful comedy by Robinson know that the scene in which Withnail's uncle tries to seduce I is directly inspired by what happened during the shooting of "Giulietta e Romeo" where Robinson was playing Mercuzio, I guess. Every night Zeffirelli tried to get into Robinson' s bedroom just to have sex with him. Anyway he failed with everyone of those actors who not only are straight, except one, you guess which one, but have a better taste.

In the Bedroom (2001)

A tragedy with no tragedy

[1/10 · 7 January 2012]

To start with a comparison this movie was like if Albert Einstein had a lobotomy. It was supposed to be about love, loss, grief, forgiveness, but nothing of it was in there. The director did his best to castrate what could have been a beautiful movie. I mean, the plot was good, but it was treated in the most superficial way. The shooting was banal and the acting simply pathetic. Every moment was turned into an insipid nonsense. I don't know if the director is aware of the fact that Hollywood is playing him for a fool, which means that the producers have found someone able to transform the most compelling stories in one of those main stream baloney. Someone says in a review that this is a soap-opera and a bad one I must add. I found it most accurate. What really astonishes me is the fact that such good actors like Sissy Spacek, Marisa Tomei and Nick Stal dared to appear in this Hollywood saccharine. I could never ever forget Stal's performance in " Bully" by Larry Clarck. In that feature he was able to catch the meaning of his character in such perfect way... And now this... Of course, when directors make movies which depict life like it really is, they are usually called nihilistic, pervert or, why not, communist... Now how shall we call the ones who strive to make fun of the most tragic things that can happen in human life? I'm not saying that making fun was the director's purpose, but he did, or to be more precise, you couldn't even laugh at it, because of its total lack of meaning

Female Trouble (1974)

What else is to say?

[10/10 · 6 December 2011]

I'm asking myself why I'm writing a review about this masterpiece of all times. What else can be said about Female trouble? I pride myself on being a Dreamland hard core fan, but I feel dull right now because I cannot express in the right way what I think and feel about this movie. Let's say it was a revelation to me, something that can never wear out. I watched this movie many, many many times and it's always like I'm watching it for the first time. Shall I say it's funny, hilarious, meaningful, what else? It's all that and much more. It's more than a movie, a way of life, something that can change your life for ever. If you are feeling depressed watch it and your life will get a new focus. To cut short on a long story, this picture has became a part of my life, something that it's not likely to happen all the time.

Danny in the Sky (2001)

looking for intelligent audiences

[8/10 · 6 December 2011]

I beg you, do NOT pay any attention to the few bad reviews this movie got here. The journey of a young guy looking for his identity is deeply touching, moving and, at last but not least, profound. Denis Langlois handles his material with a hard knowledge of the human heart, truthfulness and sincerity. I wonder how can people stay unmoved by the scene in the dark room, where Daniel and his father meet? It was wonderful the way the director managed to show the messed up feelings we can feel in that scene. There is plenty of it. I mean, do people realize how beautiful it was to stage the moment of truth between father and son in a dark room, where they get "naked" and finally show what they really feel? Furthermore, there was NO exploitation in the feature. Only a few nudity were allowed and no voyeurism at all. It's clearly stated that the photographer respects her subjects. And there is more. I simply loved the way Daniel tries to get rid of his cousin, knocking him off with ecstasy. A typical female action, the most appropriate for guys who are into modeling. So go and buy the DVD, it's really worth watching.

Amnesia: The James Brighton Enigma (2005)

A master piece about the human condition

[10/10 · 5 December 2011]

It's a very hard task trying to describe the contents of this picture. The director's purpose was to link the story of the amnesiac to the condition of being gay. But there is more than that. The loneliness which affects so deeply this man who's lost his memory can be related to every human being. It's an experience that touches generally men or women who live in a special condition. Denis Langlois provides an effort which can help the existence of many people who experience alienation, loss, abandon, and many other ugly things. I was a bit disappointed seeing that this feature was only presented in gay cinema festivals. In my opinion, this needed a wider release. By this time, this is the last DL's feature. I sincerely hope we'll see more of him, for he is a very original and talented director, full of innovation in the field of human relationship.

Flamingo Road (1949)

Cheap camp for a late JC at Warner

[4/10 · 5 December 2011]

After several good and very good movies at Warner, Joan Crawford starred in this worn out JC's formula picture. The story of Lane Bellamy, a former carnival dancer who marries a wealthy man and is persecuted by a bully politician, is nothing but a dreadful imitation of the old carachters she' s been playing at MGM. Someone can call it camp, but it's just pure trash. It's a picture ahead of its time, meaning that you can only see such rubbish in the worst Brazilian "telenovelas" nowadays. Not to mention the fact that being in her early forties by that time, she was supposed to play a twenty something young woman. Poor Joan, if she only had waited one year or two, she could have learned from William Holden that " there is nothing tragic about being fifty, unless you want to be twenty five"

Quartet (1981)

one thumb down

[7 September 2011]

I was looking forward to see this movie. Finally I did and I was really disappointed. I'm positive about one thing: the script was weak and superficial. Ruth Prawer did not a good job this time. In an interview Ivory said that she was not fond of the idea of making a movie from that novel. Well, Ivory did convince her, but he was completely wrong. She botched the job, that's sure. Bates and Smith do a very good job, I'm not sure Adjani does. Anyway, I don't like to say these things about a movie director I admire so much, but truth before everything. I shall wipe my tears away watching Maurice and The remains of the day, truly the best of his movies.

Alla mia cara mamma nel giorno del suo compleanno (1974)

a sad comedy worth watching

[8/10 · 12 February 2011]

This is a sad little comedy really worth watching. I'm much afraid that it will never be released on DVD and it's never been shown on television for many many years. Anyway, the story of count Alfredo AKA Didino (little Alfred) and his bloodsucker mother countess Mafalda has a good way to satirize the mother-son relationship in Italy. The main characters are played by Paolo Villaggio and Lila Kedrova, who are perfectly cast to display the grown man who in fact is still a little boy and the domineering matron. One of the most hilarious scenes is when during a social gathering at the countess home, we can see the most prominent socialites of the small town where Alfredo and Mafalda live, even the bishop, having tea and cake, count Didino enter the parlor completely naked, wearing a helmet and saying out loud "Madri, go home!". As I said at the beginning, this comedy is a sad one and if you are lucky enough to catch this feature, you'll be very surprised by the twisted ending.