This.
This is why I love the French, French movies and French culture! What other country can distil the conflicting emotions of the human heart, the fickle, self-punishing nature of desire, attraction and love, into pure cinema? The film is a character study, not only of the characters it depicts, but of the subtle line between desire and something deeper. This was the first time I’d seen this film, and I’m glad I came to it as a more experienced person. You can’t really appreciate the gamut of human emotion until you’ve gone through it, and if you have, you find yourself sympathising with both the male and female characters. It’s a lovely film, that will stir your emotions in a very subtle way, but not necessarily romantically. The restraint shown by the director, Claude Sautet, mirrors that of Daniel Auteuil’s character. This is not a showy, garish exploration of human desire. It’s not about the flesh, but the mind, and how the mind for some of us, will always rule the heart, to our own detriment. Emmanuelle Béart is stunning to look at, and to be honest, all she’d have to do is stand there and you’d fall in love with her, but she adds a tenderness to the role that belies the physical appearance. I really enjoyed this film, and maybe someday I’ll watch it again. Whether or not you enjoy it probably depends on your own personal circumstances when it comes to the affairs of the heart. Hopefully, when I do watch it again, it won’t resonate with me as much...
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I went to see 101 Dalmatians The Musical at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
Usually these Disney theatre productions are big, fancy affairs; fun for the whole family. This one, however, was very much aimed at the little kiddies, and often felt more like a pantomime than a production backed by the mammoth that is the Walt Disney Company. The songs weren’t particularly memorable, but the actors were fine. I dunno. I’m open-minded, and try and go see everything, but that can often result in a waste of time! Haha. It was alright I guess, especially as I’ve never seen the animated movie it’s based on, and probably never will now either! I really enjoyed Narcos on Netflix. It’s probably my favourite show on that platform. The fact that it was compelling, entertaining and based on true stories, was a winning combination.
I had never seen ‘Blow’, but I expected something similar. Nowhere near. I mean that I saw this film six months ago (at the time of writing) and can barely remember it speaks volumes. It’s a vehicle for the actors, and although based on a true story, doesn’t really portray any of the characters with much depth. A glamourisation of drugs, drug users, and drug traffickers is what Hollywood does, and that’s cool (if you’re into that shiz), but do it with more panache. I dunno. I remember not being impressed by the film, and I probably won’t be watching it again anytime soon. This is a series I really wanted to love, because I absolutely adore animation and sci-fi, and shows that take risks, and although this ticks all those boxes, it just didn’t do it for me!
Firstly, it was ensemble show, whereas I think it would have benefited from a central protagonist. Secondly, none of those characters were really that likeable, with one of them being downright despicable. To top it all off, the formula of ‘monster of the week’ storytelling got pretty boring pretty fast. Every episode was the same challenge, but in a different guise. Yawn. The artwork was cool though, which is sometimes enough! But not this time. Even if it does get another season, I won’t be watching. One of the things I like about IMDB is that when you search for a film, it gives you recommendations for other films that are similar, or that you might enjoy. For once, the algorithm is our friend!
That’s how I came upon this French film from the 1970s (that I’d never previously heard of!). Disclaimer: I am a bit of a Francophile. Theirs is a culture that appreciates art and artists, and the French films that make it to an international audience are often superb (we only get to see their best output, which is kinda cheating, but I’m not complaining!). Also, on a personal note, my experience of French people is nothing but positive! (I often tell people that the French are the second-friendliest people in London, the first being Italians, obviously!) Anyway, back to the movie! I liked it! There was a profoundness to the film for sure (I mean, what do you expect from the title!), but the execution was very well done. Even though the film starts at (spoiler?) the end, you’re still not sure which way the film will go, which is skilful storytelling for sure! I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the films and filmmakers of the past took far more risks and were far more innovative in their films than we are today. Playing it safe and catering to a broad and international audience has killed Hollywood cinema. That’s part of the success of National Cinema in Europe and Asia; they’re only catering to their national audience and thus, have greater freedom in their storytelling. Ironically, this leads to films that are loved by an International audience, because in the individual’s story, lies the universal struggle. Anyway, if you like your art house cinema, or have an appreciation for French movies, this is definitely one to check out. I saw Hit Man, the Netflix one with Glen Powell in it.
I had reasonably high expectations because a friend of mine saw it at the London Film Festival and recommended it. Also, it was made by Richard Linklater, a damn fine filmmaker in anyone’s book! I did enjoy it to be honest, but it was very much a Netflix film, in that, it entertains you for a couple of hours, and after that, you’ll never think of it ever again. i.e. Totally disposable. The lead actors were both good, and more importantly, likeable in their roles. The story wasn’t exactly riveting (despite being based on a real person), but it kept you watching. I mean, how many ‘hit man’ films do we need? They’re all practically clones of one another, but refreshingly, this one was a little different, in that the protagonist wasn’t a yoga practising stoic who has zero friends until that one girl comes along… I mean, that one girl does indeed come along, but it’s done a little differently this time! Anyway, if you’ve got Netflix, give it a gander. I finished watching Shogun.
It was slow to get good, and massively overrated! I think the high expectations were part of the reason I wasn’t as impressed with it as I may have been, and in terms of Samurai based TV shows, it was no where near as enjoyable as Blue Eyed Samurai (which I loved). It’s definitely a show where perseverance is required. I wouldn’t recommend it to the casual viewer to be honest; I think you need to have an affinity for Samurai movies and the tropes of that genre to fully enjoy the show. As for historical accuracy? I have no idea! As a viewing experience, it was alright though. People seemed to have loved it, which is fine by me. It’s by no means a bad show, but I wasn’t as taken with it as others. I went to The Other Palace theatre to see a performance of Songs For Slutty Girls.
Living in London, we’re spoiled by having the best theatre scene in the world! So I go every opportunity I get. I love it, and my favourite type of theatre at the moment is Musicals. That said, I do still have standards! Unlike the characters portrayed in this show! To be honest, I’m writing this in January 2025, and I don’t remember much about this show, other than feeling that yet another celebration of promiscuity was tiresome. Also, the songs weren’t great, and the humour was flat. Still, anytime someone takes a risk to stage a show, you have to applaud the effort, and seeing a bad show is often more rewarding than going to see a bad film. The connection with performers when they’re in front of your very eyes is very real. However! It wasn’t for me (or intended for me either!). I LOVE artwork, I love animation, I love Science Fiction and I love High Concept stories. Did I love this film? No, but I really liked it, A LOT!
A Sci-Fi detective story with humanoid artificial life forms is always going to evoke Blade Runner, and that’s not a bad thing, especially when there are so many stories one could tell within that framework. The themes are especially pertinent in our current age of artificial intelligence, and the characters are compelling. I watched the French dub, but I’m sure the English dub is equally good. If you like animation, and Sci-Fi, it’s a no brainer; watch it! It's Good!! I like Westerns, I like Vigo Mortensen. Did I like this film? No.
I found it slow, boring, and unsatisfying. There was none of that catharsis or feeling of justice being served, that an audience would want from a story of abuse. Not much else to say really. Disappointing. |
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A chronicle of films, shows, and theatre I've seen, as well as books I've read, and talks I may have attended. ArchivesCategories |