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Reviews
Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
A movie not to be missed. Along with Citizen Kane, the quintessence of the power of the media in Cinema.
"The (bitter)sweet Smell of Success" gives an underground look at the world of the medias, where newspaper columnists and press agents make up for sophisticated street thugs with nice suits. Immensely filled with tension in every bit of its running time, yet very few physical violence is thrown into the screen. The dialogues are steaming with verbal abuse, which stretches the tension even more. Shot entirely in NYC, Mackendrick's direction captured the city with much realism and gives us a look at the settings of these media moguls. Tony Curtis stands out in the role of the press agent caught up in the pattern of lies that pretty much defines his job. Oh and so many memorable quotes, i can't think of any other movie that strikes with as exciting flow of dialogues. Perhaps only "Miller's Crossing".
"I don't see shooting a mosquito with an elephant gun."
Mackendrick's unquestionable masterpiece. A Must-see.
The Awful Truth (1937)
The Wonderful Truth
Wonderful screwball comedy that has much more to offer than most of its era's clones. It has sharp dialogues with the usual taints of irony that pretty much defines the genre. And although Grant and Dunne put up excellent performances (as usual), i believe the true star of the movie is director Leo McCarey who offers perfect pace, editing and mise en scène. The Awful Truth is arguably his sleeping masterpiece, and one of the best movies of its genre.
The ending, which may set off most viewers, is meditative and completely opposite to the genre. Where many of the screwball comedies offer crazier, wilder and louder endings, McCarey chooses a much more formal, quiet and serious tone that took me by surprise, and that makes up for a much more realistic ending.
This movie comes with my highest recommendations. See it!
La battaglia di Algeri (1966)
The best revolutionary epic ever made! **** out of ****
This is simply the best revolutionary epic ever made. It got 3 Oscar nominations and the top prize in Venise festival. Even the Pentagon screened it in 2003 to study how revolutionary movements start and see how they develop.
The movie relates the algerian revolution and the struggling attempt of its people to free their land from occupying France, it is surprisingly unbiased, it simply tells us what happened without emphasizing neither the french or the algerian people, victims of both terrorism and counter-terrorism.
The movie has a documentary feel to it, which gives it more impact since it is based on a true story. There are some memorable dialogues in the movie, including the one involving the press with Colonel Mathieu, and especially the dialogue between Ali Lapointe and another terrorist where they discuss the meaning of their acts. In fact, Terrorism is simply the way poor oppressed people respond to a much stronger oppressor. Many people tend to forget it. Terrorists aren't just some crazy and sadists lunatics with dynamite belts. They fight for -most of the time- very legitimate causes.
This is a must-see for any history or film buff. Hopefully it will get the attention it deserves after the criterion release on September 2004.
The Work of Director Michel Gondry (2003)
Michel Gondry: "I've been twelve forever"
This is my favourite DVD among the three "work of director" series, which also include Spike Jonze and Chris Cunningham.
Michel Gondry is truly a genius, as inventive a video artist can get. I always saw him as a child in an adult body, and that's a compliment because only children can come up with such vivid imagination while exploring their world. But somehow, when we grow up, we loose that instant creativity, the kind of naive curiosity that drives children to filter Reality. Life simply gets the best out of us with its endless routine and repetitive patterns. How many times do you get to see some old cartoons you adored when you were little, and somehow you get disappointed and tell yourself "It sucks!"
Michel Gondry is one the most awarded music video and commercial directors, he is a gifted artist who's never afraid to try new things. He has such an avant-garde view and creativity, the kind of videos you just stare at in awe and wonder "How the hell did they do that" (e.g. the Fell in Love with a girl video.) Some of his techniques are truly brilliant, yet when you look closely, every bright child could have come up with the same ideas.
This is a must-have for every Gondry fan, as well as those who are looking for many hours of creative inspiration & fun.