graphi Reviews

Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)

A stylized view of the orient

[7/10 · 30 November 2008]

Memoirs of a Geisha was a bit of a disappointment for me. The music was undeniably beautiful. Many scenes were so breath-taking that I froze my DVD several times to take in their color and beauty. As for the costumes, they had an exotic charm. The plot was fairly interesting, too. However, the acting was shallow and one-dimensional, the dialogs were unnatural, and the actors were unconvincing. The fault lay in the fact that everyone involved on the other side of the camera (director, producer, costume designer, screenwriter, etc.) were westerners. As for the actors, many weren't Japanese, but obviously Chinese. I guess this was why everyone was speaking in accented English and not Japanese. This movie is a stylized, or perhaps even romanticized, view of Japan through the eyes of a westerner. It's another one of those Hollywood movies about other societies in which these societies are presented in a stereotypical way. Were I Japanese, I'd feel ambivalence about this movie.

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Perhaps one of the most under-rated movies of all time

[10/10 · 25 February 2008]

There is so much that I like about this movie, and I've watched it several times. First of all, the Ethan brothers are masters at the art of film-making, and they show their artistry to the fullest in The Man Who Wasn't There. The movie rotates around Thornton, whose deadpan performance is, paradoxically, so moving. It gives me the impression of someone who wants to feel, but is unable to. But the other performers are equally great. Having grown up in the 1960s, I could really relate to the movie, since it reminded me of all the B-movies we would watch on TV. Having said that, I also think it is the most authentic modern film-noir ever made. If there ever was a movie you should have in your private DVD collection, The Man Who Wasn't There is definitely one.

Midnight Express (1978)

Racist Trash

[3/10 · 7 February 2008]

The only positive thing I can say about Midnight Express is that the acting of Brad Davis is superb. It's really too bad that such a promising actor had to die so soon. But the rest of the movie is a racist rant. When I first saw the movie I wondered how any respectable Turkish actor could play such roles as the insensitive judge or the incompetent lawyer. It was later that I found out that all the Turkish parts were played by other actors of different nationalities who weren't even speaking Turkish! Talk about realism! Midnight Express had the potential to be a great movie. Unfortunately, it is an amateurish work with glimmers of professionalism.

Brides (2004)

Made me think of my mom

[9/10 · 6 February 2008]

Every time I watch Nyfes, I think of many of my older relatives, my mom included, who emigrated to Canada in the 1940s and 1950s under very similar circumstances. The scenes shot in Greece are especially breath-taking. Voulgaris made me think how ironic it was that people were forced to leave such a beautiful, but poverty-stricken country. Damian Lewis is excellent as the hopeless romantic while Victoria Haralabidou, as Niki Douka, manages to convey the fatalistic acceptance her character must have been feeling. These two performers develop one of the best examples of culture clash in a movie. Martin Scorcese is one of the producers of this movie, and I don't think he would ever let himself be associated with something which is not artistically sound. As for Voulgaris, he has done an excellent job.

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Comedy as it should be

[10/10 · 20 January 2008]

The reason I watched My Cousin Vinny was curiosity. Having heard the "debate" over Tomei's Oscar, I wanted to see for myself. The verdict is that she does deserve that Best-Supporting Actress Oscar. Her performance is brilliant - quick, spirited, but natural. She typifies the New York Italian, so common in film, without being a caricature. As for Pesci, I think he's one of Hollywood's most versatile but under-rated actors. To think that this is the same man who plays the psycho hit-man in Good Fellas! As for other performances, they are all excellent. F. Scott Fitzgerald said something to the effect that tragedy makes us feel, while comedy makes us think. Hopefully I'm not spoiling things by saying this, but I find myself dwelling on the movie and on the position it takes, whether inadvertent or intentional, on capital punishment. I keep wondering whether director Lynn and writer Launer want to make a statement with their film. Whatever, if you're looking for a funny movie to watch, My Cousin Vinny will have you laughing.

Chicago (2002)

Great Hollywood musicals still possible

[10/10 · 13 January 2008]

I really enjoyed Chicago for a variety of reasons. The plot has all the lurid sordidness of a film noir. The costumes and set totally realistic. The music is reminiscent of 1920s ragtime and vaudeville, but it has a contemporary edge to appeal to modern audiences. The musical numbers, some of which are worth watching again and again, are fantastic. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger are swanky and sexy. As for Richard Gere, after seeing him in Cotton Club, in which he plays his own instrument, it doesn't surprise me that he is so talented. In fact, all the performers are top-notch. If you're looking for a relaxing evening after a hard day, then watch Chicago.

Az pase borghe (2004)

More signs of courageous film making from Iran

[9/10 · 19 December 2007]

"Az pase borghe," or "The Other Side of the Burka," as this documentary is known in English, is a very poignant story of how fanaticism combined with poverty always leads to oppression, particularly of women. Shot on the southern Iranian island of Qeshm in the Persian Gulf, it shows how women must endure wearing a "burka." This is a leather mask that presses against the eyebrows and nose and ends just above the mouth. The documentary begins with the funeral of a young woman who hangs herself from a fan. Interviewing the dead woman's husband, family and then friends, filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouel, gradually weaves together the story of how the women of the island are fighting an constant battle for their dignity, their beauty and their very survival. This documentary is another example of how Iran's film industry is willing to tackle any issue. If I'm not mistaken, "The Other Side of the Burka" has deservedly won several international awards.

The Good German (2006)

Almost great

[8/10 · 2 December 2007]

The Good German is an attempt to produce a film-noir, with all its oppressive tension. It almost succeeds. Right from the Warner logo at the very-very beginning, I thought I was about to watch something made in the 1940s, but with a certain political / social realism found in more modern films. As the film progressed, however, I realized that it was not a true film-noir. The acting is great, especially with regards to Cate Blanchett, who excellently portrays the classic femme-fatal, and George Clooney, the typical naive American who gets in over his head. In fact, it is the acting which makes this movie worth watching, despite its somewhat erratic plot. Although well-written, dialogs in The Good German seem to lack that film-noir spontaneity and cleverness. The Good German is worth watching, but for film-noir buffs, it's better to go for the real thing.

The Mark of Cain (2007)

Almost good

[7/10 · 11 November 2007]

Although Mark of Cain isn't a bad movie, and most of the acting is in fact pretty good, it seems to be lacking a clear purpose. For a movie that aims to make a political statement, it seems to pull its punches at the most crucial moments. As a movie that wants to tell a story about a modern war, although realistic and often gritty, it is not nearly as powerful as Platoon or as intricate as Jarhead. In fact, the power of the story seems to peter out after the first two-thirds of the movie. For example, the technique of starting with a crucial scene, and then flashing back to this scene as the story unfolds, becomes less powerful. Eventually, the viewer pretty well knows what to expect. Watch Mark of Cain, expect some poignant scenes, but don't expect any new insights in that fiasco known as Iraq and don't expect to see war's truly horrific face.

The Butterfly Effect (2004)

An under-rated masterpiece

[10/10 · 14 February 2007]

The Butterfly Effect ranks among the best movies I have ever seen. It proves that you don't need big names to make a film that will have lasting appeal. Although everyone involved in the film, from directors Bress-Gruber to main actors Ashton Kutcher, Melora Walters and Amy Smart are not household names, they prove to be artists in the truest sense. And the soundtrack is so appropriate. When I decided to watch the movie, I was admittedly skeptical that something so obscure could be as powerful as a friend described it to be. But my friend was right. The Butterfly Effect is that rare gem of a movie that entertains while giving the viewer food for thought. The edition that I borrowed from my local DVD club had an accompanying disc with interviews where renowned academics define the "butterfly effect." The movie and the accompanying interviews are a truly thought-provoking experience.

Cosmos (1980)

Still impressive after all these years

[10/10 · 4 November 2006]

I recently picked up all the episodes of Sagan's series, which impressed me greatly when I first watched it in my early 20s. This time, twenty-seven years later, I am more than impressed. I am overwhelmed. Sagan is immensely intelligent, yet like all good teachers, he makes his intelligence accessible to all. Sagan's series is an example of how TV can be. The new release includes appendices after some of the episodes, recorded ten years later, in which Sagan, showing signs of the cancer that would kill him in three short years, adds new information without changing anything from the original episode. The man was so prescient, using terms like global warming and intelligent design, before they had entered our collective consciousness. Cosmos satisfies those interested in astronomy, life sciences, history, philosophy, sociology -- so wide is the breadth of topics it covers. It is something all of us should have in our DVD libraries.

Spirtokouto (2003)

Some important statements made, but a bit over the top

[6/10 · 3 July 2006]

I became interested in watching Spirtokouto after reading an interview with Yiannis Economidis. I was intrigued by his views on realism and on how films should, among other things, pull no punches when depicting the painfulness of dysfunctional families. In that respect, Spirtokouto is very much on the mark. However, I found the movie started grating on my nerves after about 30 minutes. As it progressed I felt like switching off my DVD, but I finally decided to give Economidis the benefit of the doubt. The movie does have some positive elements. Erricos Litsis (Dimitris) and Eleni Kokkidou (Maria) give very compelling performances and have all the venom you'd expect to see in a middle-aged couple trapped in their marriage. But, unfortunately, after a certain point the shouting and insults start appearing gratuitous. When the movie ended I heaved a sigh of relief, glad that it was over. Spirtokouto is not a good example of modern Greek cinema, despite the fact that Economids is capable of better things.

A Neighborhood Named 'The Dream' (1961)

Modern Greek Melodrama

[8/10 · 18 April 2006]

Synoikia to Oneiro proves that Alexandrakis was both a gifted actor and an innovative director. His movie is both gritty and moving. Shot on location in what was then Athen's poorest area, he overwhelms the viewer with the abject poverty of post-war Greece. All performances are noteworthy, especially that of Manos Katrakis. Mikis Theodorakis fans will love this movie for its music. Synoikia to Oneiro has few of the technical problems common among Greek movies of the time. I can't help feeling it a shame that Alexnadrakis hadn't directed more films. Let's not forget that movies in Greece at the time were made on shoe-string budgets. This film is under-rated. In my opinion, it's on par with Stella, Ta Kokkina Fanaria and other great Greek films made in the mid-fifties to mid-sixties.