Cess Pool Cinema:
1. I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) Dir. Tyler Perry - US
1. I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) Dir. Tyler Perry - US
The Banal, the Blah, the Banausic:
1. All About Steve (2009) Dir. Steve Traill - US
2. Seventh Moon (2009) Dir. Eduardo Sanchez – US
3. All of Me (1984) Dir. Carl Reiner - US
1. All About Steve (2009) Dir. Steve Traill - US
2. Seventh Moon (2009) Dir. Eduardo Sanchez – US
3. All of Me (1984) Dir. Carl Reiner - US
Guilty Pleasure Cinema:
1. Women In Revolt (1971) Dir. Paul Morrissey - US
1. Women In Revolt (1971) Dir. Paul Morrissey - US
Astounding Cinema:
7. Who Do Fools Fall In Love (1998) Dir. Gregory Nava – US
6. The House of the Devil (2009) Dir. Ti West – US
5. Crimes & Misdemeanors (1989) Dir. Woody Allen – US
4. Out of the Past (1947) Dir. Jacques Tourneur – US
3. The Apartment (1960) Dir. Billy Wilder – US
2. The Shanghai Gesture (1941) Dir. Josef Von Sternberg - US
1. Ed Wood (1994) Dir. Tim Burton – US
7. Who Do Fools Fall In Love (1998) Dir. Gregory Nava – US
6. The House of the Devil (2009) Dir. Ti West – US
5. Crimes & Misdemeanors (1989) Dir. Woody Allen – US
4. Out of the Past (1947) Dir. Jacques Tourneur – US
3. The Apartment (1960) Dir. Billy Wilder – US
2. The Shanghai Gesture (1941) Dir. Josef Von Sternberg - US
1. Ed Wood (1994) Dir. Tim Burton – US
Rewatched Goodies:
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939) Dir. Victor Fleming – US 10/10
2. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987) Dir. Todd Haynes – US 10/10
1. The Wizard of Oz (1939) Dir. Victor Fleming – US 10/10
2. Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story (1987) Dir. Todd Haynes – US 10/10
Theatrical Screenings:
1. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Dir. Terry Gilliam – US 7/10
1. The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) Dir. Terry Gilliam – US 7/10
I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009) – Cursed be this latest abortion sprung on us from Tyler Perry. As most filmmakers seem to improve with experience, Perry seems to worsen with each additional effort. A muddled, exasperating miasma of stereotypes and dogmatic religious tropes, recent Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson (who at least looks good) is saddled with headlining this contemptible sewage. Tyler Perry is obviously not a lover of cinema, for anyone in love with the movies wouldn’t bother filming such a cursed disease into existence. Tyler Perry directing a film, I’ve come to decide, is like hiring your dentist to perform your abortion. Cunning necromancer that he is, Perry cast himself in drag (that infernal Madea queen) realizing that his films fail to make money without this, errr, obviously queer characterization, while also plopping Mary J. Blige into the mix, but not really as a character, you see, but rather as a muppet conveniently able to sling liquor and sing songs as is deemed necessary.
All About Steve (2009) – I’m actually being nice putting this film into the mediocre category. Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper star in this uncomfortable and puzzling film trying to be a romantic comedy. Bullock’s a crossword puzzle creator that insists she’s in love with Cooper, a cameraman with baby chicken hair, stalking him around the country while he films unnecessary news events with Thomas Haden Church. Along the way, many uncomfortable things happen and you’ll wish this would swiftly turn into a rampaging horror film in which our heroine gets sacrificed to a horny moon demon, but there’s no such luck here.
Seventh Moon (2009) – Speaking of moon demons, the co-director of The Blair Witch Project (1999), Eduardo Sanchez’s new film, Seventh Moon is an infuriating exercise, if mostly because it’s got quite a creepy premise that gets off to an excellent start. Amy Smart and Tim Chiou star as a couple honeymooning in China during a “Hungry Ghost” festival, and unfortunately get themselves offered up as a sacrifice of sorts during the night of the seventh moon when a bunch of moon demons stalk the Earth and eat people. Before any racial issues can be soundly explored the couple is being chased around in the dark. For once, Amy Smart managed to avoid my disdain, but mostly because she’s only running around screaming in the dark and we can barely see her. And I mean barely. Most of this film seems to be lit only by the light of the moon, meaning that after about 45 minutes of Amy Smart getting chased by moon demons made me want her to catch her faster. It’s hard to stay interested when there’s nothing to see.
All of Me (1984) – Carl Reiner directs Steve Martin again, but this time with comedian Lily Tomlin along for the ride, as a spirit that’s taken over half of Martin’s body. While Martin certainly rises to the occasion in a role that’s quite physically demanding, Tomlin’s role is extremely underwritten and annoying, falling flat in nearly every scene. Victoria Tennant (who used to be married to Martin) is also in a thankless role as a bad girl/love interest. Sadly forgettable.
Women In Revolt (1971) – If you’re in the mood to watch three of Andy Warhol’s most famous drag queens tramp it up in a film about the Women’s Lib movement, you need to see Women In Revolt. Warhol regular Paul Morrissey (Flesh for Frankenstein, 1973; Blood For Dracula, 1974) directs Candy Darling, Holly Woodlawn, and Jackie Curtis. Poor Candy Darling would die of cancer only three years later, and Jackie Curtis (who steals most of her scenes brilliantly, would die of a heroin overdose in 1985. Holly Woodlawn is still alive, (and Kids On TV wrote a song about her ostrich feathers/welfare predicament) playing an avid nymphomaniac here. Definitely worth the time to check out. “You’ve been loud too long.”
Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998) – While this film is kind of a guilty pleasure, it manages to construct an interesting and attention worthy narrative out of nothing. Basically, in the mid 1980’s when Diana Ross decided to cover the song “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” which was performed and written by one hit wonder Frankie Lymon, not one but three of his wives, which he was married to simultaneously, come out of the woodwork for a big paycheck. The film basically recounts the drug addled and turbulent world of these three women as they each take the stand in a hearing presided over by Pamela Reed as the judge. Lela Rochon is saddled with playing the angelic stereotype, but Halle Berry as the glamorous Zola Taylor, and especially Vivica A. Fox as Lymon’s less sophisticated spouse are quite good here.
The House of the Devil (2009) – Director Ti West ups his game with this latest offering, a throwback to 1980’s horror with this tale of a babysitter that’s not quite watching what she expects. Newcomer Jocelyn Donahue stars while Mumblecore alum Greta Gerwig supplies excellent support, Tom Noonan turns in a perfectly creepy performance and we even get a cameo from 80’s horror staple Dee Wallace. Excellent buildup and a satisfactory ending make this one for aficionados to hanker for.
Crimes & Misdemeanors (1989) – Woody Allen’s original dark concept film (I’m talking before Match Point, 2005 and Cassandra’s Dream, 2007) was an excellent cap to his 80’s era as an exercise of good vs. evil, sight vs. blindness, punishment vs. redemption. Allen casts himself as the center of a subplot involving Mia Farrow, which is the less interesting part of the film. More intriguing is dentist Martin Landau hiring his brother with mafia ties, Jerry Orbach, to kill his persistent and out of control mistress, Anjelica Huston, so as not to rock the boat with his perfect marriage to Claire Bloom. Good stuff, and a darkly comic Allen in top form.
Out of the Past (1947) – Yes, this is film from which I grabbed the title to name my weekly cinema roundups. Helmed by one of my favorites, Jacques Tourneur (responsible for faves Cat People, 1942 and Night of the Demon, 1957) Out of the Past is considered a definitive film noir. Starring Robert Mitchum, the first half of the film is told in flashback while Mitchum relates his past evil doings as a private investigator to his current girlfriend (Virginia Huston) concerning a past flame (Jane Greer starring as one of the wickedest femme fatales you’re wont to see) and her torrid relationship with a crooked gangster (Kirk Douglas). A heady and satisfying conclusion wraps up this noir gem, which also features Rhonda Fleming as a double crossing secretary.
The Apartment (1960) – Winner of the Best Picture Oscar in 1960, Billy Wilder’s wildly successful dark comedy concerns a lowly office worker attempting to get quickly promoted by loaning out his apartment for the manager’s to use for their trysts and other various infidelities. Quiet risqué, even by today’s standards, Jack Lemmon stars as the owner of the apartment who’s also in love with the elevator operator played by Shirley MacLaine. Little does he know that MacLaine is the mistress of the owner of Lemmon’s company, played with smarmy certainty by Fred MacMurray. Those expecting a zany comedy in the vein of Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) will be surprised at how dark and kind of perverse this film is. But the more I think about it after watching it, the more touching and human this film becomes.
The Shanghai Gesture (1941) – Considered to be the last great film by auteur Josef Von Sternberg, this film based on the 1925 play about prostitution and opium addiction in modern Shanghai was obviously altered considerably to meet censorship standards. However, as with most great films battling the morons dictating standards tend to be, Sternberg’s work shines through. Breathtaking beauty Gene Tierney stars as Poppy (meant to symbolize the flower from which opium is derived) an ingénue drawn into an infamous gambling house run by Madam Gin Sling (originally named Madame Goddam in the play) portrayed in one of the most delightfully strange and arresting performances I’ve ever seen on film by actress Ona Munson (who is not Chinese), a virtual dragon-lady with Medusa hair, and perhaps Satan personified. The casino is leveled to symbolize Hell, like Dante’s Inferno. Walter Huston stars a wealthy businessman who has bought a large portion of land in Shanghai and wishes to clean it up by forcing Madame Gin Sling out of business. However, Huston’s daughter is Gene Tierney, who becomes addicted to gambling, opium, and uhh, other hinted at vices that Madame Gin Sling uses in her favor to manipulate Huston (Huston would plays Tierney’s father again in 1946’s Dragonwyck). Throw into the mix a nefarious bisexual playboy (“I’m a doctor of Shanghai….and Gomorrah”) played by Victor Mature, who’s not really a real doctor at all. A stunning finale reveals Madame Gin Sling’s own wicked secret, and before you know it the tables turn one last time to end this picture with a bang. I can’t express how truly awesome this film and Ona Munson’s performance is. Amazing.
Ed Wood (1994) – And topping this week’s list is Tim Burton’s 1994 biopic of sorts about one of the worst directors of all time, the well meaning and passionate Ed Wood, and his relationship (and sometimes exploitation) of faded, drug addled screen star, Bela Lugosi. Martin Landau deservedly won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal as Lugosi in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. Burton’s film manages to be touching, charismatic, exciting, and hilarious, with pitch perfect support from the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeffrey Jones, Lisa Marie, Patricia Arquette, and an utterly fabulous performance from Bill Murray as an effete homosexual. Johnny Depp is the eponymous director in a film that could possibly be Burton’s best work (though Edward Scissorhands 1990 might tie for that title).
All About Steve (2009) – I’m actually being nice putting this film into the mediocre category. Sandra Bullock and Bradley Cooper star in this uncomfortable and puzzling film trying to be a romantic comedy. Bullock’s a crossword puzzle creator that insists she’s in love with Cooper, a cameraman with baby chicken hair, stalking him around the country while he films unnecessary news events with Thomas Haden Church. Along the way, many uncomfortable things happen and you’ll wish this would swiftly turn into a rampaging horror film in which our heroine gets sacrificed to a horny moon demon, but there’s no such luck here.
Seventh Moon (2009) – Speaking of moon demons, the co-director of The Blair Witch Project (1999), Eduardo Sanchez’s new film, Seventh Moon is an infuriating exercise, if mostly because it’s got quite a creepy premise that gets off to an excellent start. Amy Smart and Tim Chiou star as a couple honeymooning in China during a “Hungry Ghost” festival, and unfortunately get themselves offered up as a sacrifice of sorts during the night of the seventh moon when a bunch of moon demons stalk the Earth and eat people. Before any racial issues can be soundly explored the couple is being chased around in the dark. For once, Amy Smart managed to avoid my disdain, but mostly because she’s only running around screaming in the dark and we can barely see her. And I mean barely. Most of this film seems to be lit only by the light of the moon, meaning that after about 45 minutes of Amy Smart getting chased by moon demons made me want her to catch her faster. It’s hard to stay interested when there’s nothing to see.
All of Me (1984) – Carl Reiner directs Steve Martin again, but this time with comedian Lily Tomlin along for the ride, as a spirit that’s taken over half of Martin’s body. While Martin certainly rises to the occasion in a role that’s quite physically demanding, Tomlin’s role is extremely underwritten and annoying, falling flat in nearly every scene. Victoria Tennant (who used to be married to Martin) is also in a thankless role as a bad girl/love interest. Sadly forgettable.
Women In Revolt (1971) – If you’re in the mood to watch three of Andy Warhol’s most famous drag queens tramp it up in a film about the Women’s Lib movement, you need to see Women In Revolt. Warhol regular Paul Morrissey (Flesh for Frankenstein, 1973; Blood For Dracula, 1974) directs Candy Darling, Holly Woodlawn, and Jackie Curtis. Poor Candy Darling would die of cancer only three years later, and Jackie Curtis (who steals most of her scenes brilliantly, would die of a heroin overdose in 1985. Holly Woodlawn is still alive, (and Kids On TV wrote a song about her ostrich feathers/welfare predicament) playing an avid nymphomaniac here. Definitely worth the time to check out. “You’ve been loud too long.”
Why Do Fools Fall In Love (1998) – While this film is kind of a guilty pleasure, it manages to construct an interesting and attention worthy narrative out of nothing. Basically, in the mid 1980’s when Diana Ross decided to cover the song “Why Do Fools Fall In Love,” which was performed and written by one hit wonder Frankie Lymon, not one but three of his wives, which he was married to simultaneously, come out of the woodwork for a big paycheck. The film basically recounts the drug addled and turbulent world of these three women as they each take the stand in a hearing presided over by Pamela Reed as the judge. Lela Rochon is saddled with playing the angelic stereotype, but Halle Berry as the glamorous Zola Taylor, and especially Vivica A. Fox as Lymon’s less sophisticated spouse are quite good here.
The House of the Devil (2009) – Director Ti West ups his game with this latest offering, a throwback to 1980’s horror with this tale of a babysitter that’s not quite watching what she expects. Newcomer Jocelyn Donahue stars while Mumblecore alum Greta Gerwig supplies excellent support, Tom Noonan turns in a perfectly creepy performance and we even get a cameo from 80’s horror staple Dee Wallace. Excellent buildup and a satisfactory ending make this one for aficionados to hanker for.
Crimes & Misdemeanors (1989) – Woody Allen’s original dark concept film (I’m talking before Match Point, 2005 and Cassandra’s Dream, 2007) was an excellent cap to his 80’s era as an exercise of good vs. evil, sight vs. blindness, punishment vs. redemption. Allen casts himself as the center of a subplot involving Mia Farrow, which is the less interesting part of the film. More intriguing is dentist Martin Landau hiring his brother with mafia ties, Jerry Orbach, to kill his persistent and out of control mistress, Anjelica Huston, so as not to rock the boat with his perfect marriage to Claire Bloom. Good stuff, and a darkly comic Allen in top form.
Out of the Past (1947) – Yes, this is film from which I grabbed the title to name my weekly cinema roundups. Helmed by one of my favorites, Jacques Tourneur (responsible for faves Cat People, 1942 and Night of the Demon, 1957) Out of the Past is considered a definitive film noir. Starring Robert Mitchum, the first half of the film is told in flashback while Mitchum relates his past evil doings as a private investigator to his current girlfriend (Virginia Huston) concerning a past flame (Jane Greer starring as one of the wickedest femme fatales you’re wont to see) and her torrid relationship with a crooked gangster (Kirk Douglas). A heady and satisfying conclusion wraps up this noir gem, which also features Rhonda Fleming as a double crossing secretary.
The Apartment (1960) – Winner of the Best Picture Oscar in 1960, Billy Wilder’s wildly successful dark comedy concerns a lowly office worker attempting to get quickly promoted by loaning out his apartment for the manager’s to use for their trysts and other various infidelities. Quiet risqué, even by today’s standards, Jack Lemmon stars as the owner of the apartment who’s also in love with the elevator operator played by Shirley MacLaine. Little does he know that MacLaine is the mistress of the owner of Lemmon’s company, played with smarmy certainty by Fred MacMurray. Those expecting a zany comedy in the vein of Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959) will be surprised at how dark and kind of perverse this film is. But the more I think about it after watching it, the more touching and human this film becomes.
The Shanghai Gesture (1941) – Considered to be the last great film by auteur Josef Von Sternberg, this film based on the 1925 play about prostitution and opium addiction in modern Shanghai was obviously altered considerably to meet censorship standards. However, as with most great films battling the morons dictating standards tend to be, Sternberg’s work shines through. Breathtaking beauty Gene Tierney stars as Poppy (meant to symbolize the flower from which opium is derived) an ingénue drawn into an infamous gambling house run by Madam Gin Sling (originally named Madame Goddam in the play) portrayed in one of the most delightfully strange and arresting performances I’ve ever seen on film by actress Ona Munson (who is not Chinese), a virtual dragon-lady with Medusa hair, and perhaps Satan personified. The casino is leveled to symbolize Hell, like Dante’s Inferno. Walter Huston stars a wealthy businessman who has bought a large portion of land in Shanghai and wishes to clean it up by forcing Madame Gin Sling out of business. However, Huston’s daughter is Gene Tierney, who becomes addicted to gambling, opium, and uhh, other hinted at vices that Madame Gin Sling uses in her favor to manipulate Huston (Huston would plays Tierney’s father again in 1946’s Dragonwyck). Throw into the mix a nefarious bisexual playboy (“I’m a doctor of Shanghai….and Gomorrah”) played by Victor Mature, who’s not really a real doctor at all. A stunning finale reveals Madame Gin Sling’s own wicked secret, and before you know it the tables turn one last time to end this picture with a bang. I can’t express how truly awesome this film and Ona Munson’s performance is. Amazing.
Ed Wood (1994) – And topping this week’s list is Tim Burton’s 1994 biopic of sorts about one of the worst directors of all time, the well meaning and passionate Ed Wood, and his relationship (and sometimes exploitation) of faded, drug addled screen star, Bela Lugosi. Martin Landau deservedly won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his portrayal as Lugosi in one of the best performances I’ve ever seen. Burton’s film manages to be touching, charismatic, exciting, and hilarious, with pitch perfect support from the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeffrey Jones, Lisa Marie, Patricia Arquette, and an utterly fabulous performance from Bill Murray as an effete homosexual. Johnny Depp is the eponymous director in a film that could possibly be Burton’s best work (though Edward Scissorhands 1990 might tie for that title).
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