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-T- simply click on a movie poster to purchase the film Talk
to Her
 (2002)
Spanish, subtitles Director/Screenwriter: Pedro Almodovar Principals: Javier Camara, Dario Grandinetti, Leonor Watling Instead of spending your time watching another effects-driven, bloody blockbuster from Robert Rodriguez, why not take in a film by Spanish master, Pedro Almodovar. Two strangers, one in love with a ballerina, the other in love with a female matador, are drawn together in a hospital where their lovers lay in comas, the only sane thing left to do – talk to her. This film is not easy. It is heart-wrenching and stomach churning, but its complexity and subtlety make it well worth the ride. The classical chamber music with distinct Spanish flavor, deft photography, great acting and a complicated story about love and loss, take the cinephile in fantastic directions and make this film something special. The Tango Lesson  (1997)
French, Argentine, British, subtitles Director/Screenwriter: Sally Potter Principals: Pablo Veron, Sally Potter Filmed in Paris, London and Buenos Aires, this film depicts the true love story of dancer Pablo Veron and film director Sally Potter. Potter sees Veron dance and decides to take tango lessons from him. Later, Veron chooses Potter to dance in a public performance with him, and likewise Potter chooses Veron to star in a movie about tango. The intimacy of their relationship and the tango itself makes this film both sexy and deeply personal. Although overly philosophical at times, The Tango Lesson is visually captivating because of the beautiful dancing, and that coupled with the complicated twists and turns of an intriguing relationship make this a film worth seeing. The Taste of Others  (1999)
French, subtitles Director: Agnes Jaoui Screenwriter: Agnes Jaoui, Jean-Pierre Bacri Principals: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Anne Alvaro, Alain Chabat, Agnes Jaoui Here we go again, another great French art film. The Taste of Others is filled with subtle wit and nuance spoken by actors who really know their craft. The wife of a successful businessman (Castella) drags him to an opera where he is struck by the beauty and power of its star (Clara). He becomes so infatuated that he goes back night after night. Then, fate takes hold when the English teacher who helps him with a business deal turns out to be Clara. Jean- Pierre Bacri is a perfect foil in the role of Castella, and Agnes Jaoui directs with a clever yet endearing touch. This film develops slowly but once it gets going, wow. Telling Lies in America  (1997)
Indie Director: Guy Ferland Screenwriter: Joe Eszterhas Principals: Brad Renfroe, Kevin Bacon, Maximilian Schell Although not a great film, this one is worth a look-see. Telling Lies in America is a coming of age film about an immigrant’s son who goes to work at a radio station for the likes of a disc jockey played by Kevin Bacon. Brad Renfroe stars as the teenager who learns a lot about the record business but even more about himself. Sometimes sophomoric and over-the-top, this film still captures the naiveté and growing cynicism of youth when it confronts the darker side of adulthood. Sparks fly when the father played by Maximilian Schell confronts Billy Magic (Bacon) concerning his true intentions and how they would affect the impressionable teenager. Bacon’s performance as a seedy huckster practically devoid of morals is deserving of awards. The Tesseract  (2003)
Thai, English, subtitlesDirector/Screenwriter: Oxide Pang Chun Principals: Jonathan Rhys-Myers, Saskia Reeves This film is a lot like Memento but with a more intriguing story and less repetition. The Heaven Hotel is the setting for events that are hellish indeed. A drug transaction goes sour and bystanders get caught in the middle. Actors Jonathan Rhys-Myers and Saskia Reeves are convincing as a drug trafficker and a psychologist, but the real star is writer/director Oxide Pang Chun who tells and shoots this story with a deft touch like Tarrantino at his best. 13 Conversations about One Thing  (2002)
Indie Director: Jill Sprecher Screenwriter: Jill Sprecher, Karen Sprecher Principals: Mathew McConaughey, John Turturro, Alan Arkin What do one man confronting his mid-life crisis, an attorney trying to save his life after a shattering event, a cleaning lady waiting for a miracle, a wife finding out about her husband’s infidelity, and a businessman seeking revenge against a co-worker have in common? This film interweaves the stories of several characters before any clear line between them takes hold. The complex screenplay is bolstered by fine acting from Mathew McConaughey, John Turturro and Alan Arkin. The one thing may be happiness but this film is about so much more. 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould  (1993)
Canadian Director: Francois Girard Screenwriter: Francois Girard, Don McKellar Principals: Colm Feore, Derek Keurvorst, Katya Ladan This biography of the famed concert pianist is divided into 32 short vignettes. The sum of all of the parts is greater than the whole. This film offers a mesmerizing look at the eccentric genius Gould, who could read music before he could read words and by the age of four knew that he would wind up a concert pianist. Director Francois Girard tells Gould’s story in a creative, non-typical way, much like Gould’s own life. Trees Lounge  (1996)
Indie Director/Screenwriter: Steve Buscemi Principals: Steve Buscemi, Anthony LaPaglia, Chloe Sevigny, Seymour Cassel This is Steve Buscemi’s first try at directing a feature film He also writes and stars as an alcoholic loser who time and again brings down himself and everybody around him. While the characters are engaging and sympathetic, their story of addiction is sadly depressing. This film is filled with great supporting performances by the likes of Anthony LaPaglia, Chloe Sevigny, Daniel Baldwin, Debbie Mazar, Mimi Rogers, Seymour Cassel, Carol Kane, Samuel L. Jackson, Elizabeth Bracco, and Michael Imperioli. If you have an addictive personality, this one will surely make you want to kick the habit. Triumph of the Spirit  (1989)
British Director: Robert M. Young Screenwriter: Shimon Arama, Zion Haen Principals: Willem Dafoe, Edward James Olmos, Robert Loggia This true story about a Greek prize fighter who survived Auschwitz depicts the life and death struggle of Jewish inmates in German concentration camps. Willem Dafoe gives a stirring performance in this gritty film that makes you think you are watching actual film shot at a death camp. You will never see a more powerful, dramatic portrayal of the Holocaust. Horrible and heart wrenching, this film should be required viewing for everyone. Trust  (2003)
IndieDirector/Screenwriter: Hal Hartley Principals: Martin Donovan, Adrienne Shelley * Unfortunately, Trust is unavailable on the USA formatted DVD. If you like offbeat comedies that are way offbeat, this one’s for you. A pregnant, high school dropout meets a moody genius who can fix just about anything but carries around a hand grenade just in case... Trust is filled with weirdly surrealistic characters, voluminous dialogue and a plot that leads to love and a big bang. Adrienne Shelley and Martin Donovan are perfectly cast and director Hal Hartley does the rest. Tully  (2002)
Indie Director/Screenwriter: Hilary Birmingham Principals: Anson Mount, Julianne Nicholson, Glenn Fitzgerald This film is all about giving, receiving and even rejecting love. Complex relationships abound between fathers and mothers, and sons and lovers. Besides the angst, the entire film radiates with its unadorned view of farming and rural life. Anson Mount, Julianne Nicholson and Glenn Fitzgerald create believable characters with a great deal of heart, and writer/director Hilary Birmingham imbues passion and beauty into every frame. Why can’t Hollywood make films about relationships that hit the mark with ease and grace? To see such a film, you need look no further than Tully. 20 Dates  (1998)
Indie Director/Screenwriter: Myles Bekowitz Principals: Myles Berkowitz, Elisabeth Wagner, Richard Arlook *At this time 20 Dates is only available on VHS. This film is about a dating loser who decides to make a movie about his experiences. He is going to take out 20 “real” women, not actresses, with the intention of finding true love and filming the actual moment of discovery. This film is self-indulgent, pretentious, petty, and unexpectedly hilarious. This film would be little more than a theatrical carbon copy of reality T.V. show if it wasn’t for the very creative Myles Berkowitz who writes, directs and stars in this very funny film. Twin Falls, Idaho  (1999)
Indie Director: Michael Polish Screenwriter: Mark Polish, Michael Polish Principals: Mark Polish, Michael Polish This film tells a quirky story involving a hooker and conjoined twins. Mark and Michael Polish star, write, produce and direct this very personal film about love and caring. Don’t let the idea of outcasts & Siamese twins keep you away. This film will touch your heart and make you laugh at the same time. It tells the story of an unlikely relationship with dignity and grace. -U- simply click on a movie poster to purchase the film Up
and Down
 (2005)
Czech, subtitles Director: Jan Hrebejk Screenwriter: Jan Hrebejk, Petr Jarchovsky Principals: Petr Forman, Jan Triska, Emilia Vasaryova If you think that the U.S. is the only country with problems involving immigration and race, then take a look at the Czech Republic. Director Jan Hrebejk has created a film that bristles with ideas and images. A couple of black marketers smuggle illegals across the border. A woman who is dying to become a mother buys a baby. An emigrant to Australia returns to Prague to visit his ailing father. These three stories loosely interconnect with strong doses of racism, soccer hooliganism, and family relations. Actors Petr Forman, Jan Triska & Emila Vasaryova give spirited performances, and director/writer Hrebejk tells his story with directness and plenty of panache. -V- simply click on a movie poster to purchase the film Vera Drake  (2004)
British Director/Screenwriter: Mike Leigh Principals: Imelda Staunton, Richard Graham, Eddie Marsan Set in London in 1950, this film is about a working-class family with a dirty, little secret – the mother performs abortions. As she says, “I’m just helping out young girls.” Noted English filmmaker Mike Leigh wrote and directed this powerful drama. But, Vera Drake belongs to actress Imelda Staunton. Her portrayal of Vera, who embodies a street savvy worldliness with a healthy dose of naiveté, is the kind of complex work that only a veteran actor could approach. The supporting cast is dead-on and armed with a script filled with honesty and humor. Veronika Voss  (1982)
German, subtitles Director: Rainer Werner Fassbinder Screenwriter: Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Pea Frohlich Principals: Rosel Zech, Hilmar Thate * Veronika Voss is available as part of a Fassbinder Trilogy. This film, like Sunset Boulevard, tells the story of a washed-up film actress who can’t tell what’s real from what’s not, and who would do anything to get back into the movies. Unlike Sunset, the story is very complicated involving Nazi ties, heroin addiction, Treblinka survivors, and a sports writer trying to figure it all out. This was the last film directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder before his suicide. The cinematography is masterful and the acting is hypnotic. This is artful filmmaking, definitely worth viewing. |
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