Change Your Image
momus99
Reviews
The Libertine (2004)
Even Depp and Malkovich can't save this turkey
The sloppy, pretentious, self-important writing and directing of this ghastly film overpowers the extraordinarily good acting of Johnny Depp and John Malkovich
The sound is horrendous (I had to watch the DVD with the English-language captions on), much of the acting is stiff, the dialogue is full of anachronisms, the lasciviousness of Restoration England is exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness, the editing is choppy and confusing, and the high-falutin-ness of it all can't hide that the film is without depth and profundity. The protagonist's speech in the House of Lords, defending the right of succession, is one of the most underwhelming climaxes ever captured on film.
Don't waste your time.
Fau sai luen kuk (1992)
A fascinating film-Part farce?
I enjoyed this film a great deal. I thought it was cinematically beautiful, sensitively directed, and superbly acted. As with a good novel, I found myself deeply connecting to the characters.
This film is also, I think, an example of how cinema from a culture different from one's own can be disorienting, but in a stimulating way. There are moments that are just heartbreaking, but I kept getting the feeling that the film was on some level intended to be humorous, even farcical. I'd be interested in the opinion of others who know more about Chinese culture and its cinematic traditions.