Vultural

We Are The Best! - 2013 - 6/10
AKA - Vi är Bäst!

In the 80’s, three girls form a punk band, though obits for punk are already fading yellow.
One is frustrated, another rebellious, the third quiet, though possessing actual musical ability.
Viewers with a passing familiarity of The Shaggs may know what to expect, sonic wise.
The girls are young, two are 13, one may be 14, a horrible age, bucking peer pressure and walls.
Not a coming of age film, and not necessarily feel-good.
Despite their language, the girls still retain the grace of childhood which draws sympathy.
Captures that moment of adolescence before opportunities expand, while other choices disappear.

Faust - 1994 - 7/10
AKA - Lesson Faust

Paper flyers are pushed onto pedestrians, including our unnamed gentleman.
He sees a crude map, which he discards. Once home, a copy of the map lies on his desk.
Curiosity wins out.
Following directions on the map, he finds a locked door, then a key, and he enters the rabbit hole.
Soon enough, he changes from ordinary soul to lead actor to Doktor Faustus.
Almost surreal interpretation of the Faust legend involves actors, marionettes, claymotion, cutouts.
This is a collision of theatre boards, pageant play, modern banalities.
Mephistopheles, and the “deal,” do not appear until a third of the way in.
Often confusing, never dull, multiple layers unroll simultaneously at times.

To Sleep, So As To Dream - 1986 - 7/10
AKA - Yumemiru Yôni Nemuritai // 夢みるように眠りたい/

A young female, Kikyo, is kidnapped and two detectives are hired to handle the ransom.
The culprits leave clues and riddles on how to proceed, from the sideshow to the carnival to stage.
One detective is able to deduce the puzzles, while his associate resembles Kato’s long lost nephew.
The ghost of an earlier Silent, “The Eternal Mystery” (which may remind chanbara fans of the Band Of Assassins franchise) plays as a film within a film.
The look, using multiple styles and techniques, is amazing and haunting.
This is dream cinema, blending obsession with magic, with references to Noir, Expressionism, Rampo.
Recently remastered, this should be on every film buff’s wish list.

Infamous - 2006 - 6/10

Toby Jones’s portrayal came out the same time as Phillip Hoffman’s in Capote.
Jones’s is a bit more over the top than Hoffman.
This version also accents how the long judgment process affected Capote.
He couldn’t publish “In Cold Blood” until the actual hanging was carried out four years later.
The waiting drained him.
A film I more appreciated rather than enjoyed.

Collateral Beauty - 2016 - 6/10

Opening sequence, young entrepreneur inspires his crew with his credo of “Love, Time, and Death.”
Next scene, three years on, after personal tragedy he is an emotional zombie, building elaborate domino cascades while the company perishes.
Partners concoct a strategy to wrest voting control away from him.
The hire three stage actors to play the above mentioned, Love - Time - Death.
Although dark fare, there is a fairytale element in this reminiscent of Touched By An Angel.
Large name cast tries hard with fluff, better suited to Hallmark or Lifetime channels.

Milius - 2013 - 7/10

Perceptive, if skewed, look at the man, his bombastic persona, and tremendous output.
Very – very little of his personal life is shown.
Amongst a plethora of impressive interviewees, were Milius’ son and daughter.
No mention of wives or marriages, or any personal details.
Consequently, most of the anecdotes or stories from others are “work” related.
For a doc of an artist, such is to the point, with very little fat.
Fans of this man will truly enjoy. As Sam Elliott warns early on, however, “John doesn’t write for women, and he doesn’t write for pussies.”
This documentary will appeal mostly to men, especially those who have won a few battles and lost a few.
Note - I will never view Big Lebowski’s Walter quite the same.

North Of The Sun - 2012 - 7/10
AKA - Nordfor Sola

Surfers Inge and Jørn find a secluded bay, perfect for riding the waves.
Location, north of the Arctic Circle in Norway.
The pair decide to overwinter there, and build a cabin out of driftwood and debris.
During the gray, sunless days, they hit the beach! No telling how cold the water is.
The guys do more than surf, however, they clean up the beach where they are, try to live off salvage.
Their attitude is terrific. They don’t seem to fight, they laugh, they stoically endure bitter cold.
And they are disconnected. No electricity, no WiFi, no modcons. No World Wide Web.
Photography is usually better than the weather. The frigid surfing is unbelievable.

Big Wednesday - 1978 - 7/10

John Milius’ overlooked ode to surfing and surf culture, of which he was a part.
Film split into various chapters, eras, as three young friends adjust to changing times, changing circumstances.
Milius’ voice is pronounced here, quite lyrical at times.
1962 - 1965 - 1968 - up until the early 70’s.
Vietnam, still raw and painful, knifes through relationships, though the focus remains on the waves.
Humans eddy along the stream of events, the once-admired become discarded.
Majestic photography! Not as crisp or detailed as current films, but with long takes one can observe how waves build up and break, and how seasoned riders can work the pipe as long as possible.

Control - 2007 - 7/10

" … your confusion, my illusion … "
Sam Riley spellbinding as Ian Curtis, frontman of Joy Division.
Pressures and health problems push him to the edge of the rope.
Filmed in stark black and white, with evocative soundtrack.
Essential for fans.
Pairs well with 24 Hour Party People.

A Film Unfinished - 2010 - 7/10

Nazi film from inside the Warsaw Ghetto for an unfinished propaganda piece.
Sidewalks littered with rich citizens and corpses. Not necessarily.
Reels discovered years later indicate filmmakers set up situations, and did multiple takes.
“Rich" were actually coerced victims.
Chilling reminder that images have always been manipulated for dark agendas.

Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday - 1953 - 8/10

I try to watch this French classic every year once Summer begins to fade.
Mister Hulot goes to the coast for a week, and has a series of misadventures.
Gags, too numerous to mention, include the shark boat, the tennis match, the white horse with a grudge.
Almost completely wordless comedy, in the best tradition of Chaplin and Keaton.
Tati’s best film.

X-Company: S01 - 2015 - 6/10

Allied espionage unit runs missions in Vichy France during World War II.
Though a Canadian series (HQ also based in Canada) the team also contains French, British and Yanks.
Episodic series in the Mission Impossible (TV) vein. Meaning, the team drops in, does their thing, is extracted.
The Germans grow aware of them, especially of “Alfred” who has a photographic memory.
Indeed, Alfred is a vault of intelligence, which the Nazis value.
Series only runs three seasons, and supposedly delivers closure, though I doubt I’ll stick with it.
The look is slick, acting is professional, but with most WWII shows, I know how history will resolve.

The Flavor Of Green Tea Over Rice - 1952 - 6/10
AKA - Ochazuke No Aji // お茶漬けの味

Classic Japanese chamber drama from Ozu.
Bored, city housewife complains and badmouths her less upscale husband.
She lies to him, sets off on trips, then tries to push niece into an arranged marriage.
“Like yours? Why would I want a miserable arranged marriage like yours?”
Little in the way of tension or conflict, physical or emotional.
Restraint is the keyword, which includes camerawork.
Compositions and framing are immaculate, in static, low key story.

The History Boys - 2006 - 7/10

Talky adaptation of popular play.
Graduating class of Sheffield grammar school qualifies for Cambridge and Oxford.
Merely qualifying doesn’t guarantee entry.
There are interviews to hurdle.
A young teacher is hired on to hone skills, to show the lads can learn and think independently.
Despite a uninspired end twist, a satisfying movie, chock flash with history nuggets, wordplay, poetry and song (including George Formby!).
A powerful tonic against defeatists and yob worship.

Aguirre, Forrest - The Varvaros Ascensions

“… we build cities with stories and with people’s interpretations of such stories.”

A chances mention of a masters thesis, arcane or deranged, arouses curiosity then obsession.
The bookshop that proves to be a gateway, followed by a descent into the chaos of knowledge.
The soon-to-be grad student sees his future in sight, his professional landscape mapped out. Until the aforementioned descent which ignites a flame that purifies as it annihilates.
This book would make an ideal, if heady, introduction to the Romanian publisher of commonplace upheaval.
Mr. Aguirre shows an efficient yet unerring word sense, his descriptions evocative, often multi faceted.
Time and again, even with mundane activities, a single sentence can dance with observations:
“… I headed up a narrow stairway to an over-rated, underlit café that served overpriced sandwiches made by under-paid students …”
The second half of the book delves into what can only be called dark science, of which I shall say no more.

Suite Noire - 2009 - 6/10

Composite rating for anthology series.
Some stories are outstanding, others lackluster.
A vintner, and gourmet, murders his wife because of pathetic cooking skills.
He hires a young girl, and beats excellence from her.
Another individual accidentally kills a trapped car driver.
As he attempts to cover that up, victims mount.

An African girl arrives in France for work, a fresh chance.
The so-called work is of a horizontal nature.
A liberal radio station befriends convicts.
An illustrator experiments with African tribal magic.
The leader of a music group uses his bankrupt father to climb the ladder.
Eight stand-alone installments. All seedy and pulp influenced.

The Audience - 2013 - 7/10

Theatre junkies, assemble!
During the Covid lockdown, the National Theatre began limited airing of stage classics.
Queen Elizabeth II has held weekly meetings with the Prime Minister since Churchill.
Twelve PMs (when this was performed. Since then May and Johnson as of 2020).
Outside of the spotlight and acting out for cameras and constituencies, this show humanizes the politicians.
The Queen (Helen Mirren) has been around the block and has a wry sense of humor.

Most of the exchanges sparkle. Of particular note are talks with Wilson and Thatcher.
This strikes me as a highly “English” play.
Meaning, unless you really know British history from the 1960’s on, you will be adrift.

Uncertainty - 2009 - 4/10

A young couple (Lynn Collins & Joseph Gordon-Levitt) stand in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge, trying to make a big decision.
The guy flips a coin … they streak off in opposite directions, into parallel stories with each other!
One is the dreaded meal with the girl’s family in Brooklyn, the other is fleeing Russian mobsters in Manhattan.
Unappealing narratives because the characters behave stupidly and make fool decisions even tourists would not.
I’d say “avoid” this one, only it was hard enough for me to find.
Makes me wonder how indie flicks make money. They never screen in theaters. Rental outlets are toast.
How do these films turn a profit for investors?

Perrier’s Bounty - 2009 - 7/10

Exceedingly black Irish comedy.
Two mob soldiers wake up Michael (by spitting pistachio shells at him) and remind him he has only a few hours to repay a financial obligation to their boss.
Burglary, beatings, gunplay follow as Michael’s predicament tailspins from bad to worse.
His estranged father appears, and his depressed female neighbor proves trigger happy.
A great shaggy dog film. Everyone who sat with me laughed out loud.
Starring Cillian Murphy, Jim Broadbent, Jodie Whittaker, Liam Cunningham.
And let’s not forget the dogs: Achilles and Apollo!

I Called Him Morgan - 2016 - 6/10

Informative biography on Jazz trumpeter, Lee Morgan, as told from fellow musicians, and the woman who killed him.
Morgan came up in the late 50’s, working with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, later leading his own combos.
Photos, home movies, old newsreels, combine with recollections.
Most of the interviewees are aging, one key individual was caught a month before their death.
Should appeal to music fans, whether you are into Jazz, or not.
Admittedly, I knew of Morgan, and while roughly half of my Jazz albums are trumpet players (Miles, Louis, Chet), I only had two or three, seldom listened to, LP’s by Morgan.

The Fox With A Velvet Tail - 1971 - 6/10
AKA - El Ojo Del Huracán // In The Eye Of The Hurricane

Ruth presses husband Michele to make arrangements for their divorce.
“But I still love you!” he declares, as her robe slips off.
After an interlude, she confesses she already ‘met someone.’

Ah, the debonair playboy, who appears perfect in every regard.
Ruth is a slow learner. Not until the second attempt on her life does she grow suspicious.
Trashy Italian film carries Giallo elements, but seems more romance and mystery.
First third is fairly slow, but there is skin in abundance. Suggestive more than graphic.
Troy Howarth delivers an exhaustive audio commentary, packed with names and filmographies.
Film is not essential, but it good looking and passably coherent.

Fantastic Mr. Fox - 2009 - 7/10

Fox “settled down” after he and the missus nearly died one night at the chicken farm.
Writes for the village paper (that no one reads), has angry teenage son, and a wife who holds him to his promise of no more stealing.
As a reformed character, however, he is dissatisfied, and longs for one final heist.
Three stages - three farms - three farmers.
One farmer, in particular, is diabolically clever.
Powerhouse voice cast: George Clooney, Bill Murray, Meryl Streep, Owen Wilson, Willum Dafoe, Michael Gambon, Jason Schwartzman.
Based on Roald Dahl’s book.

You Don’t Know Jack - 2010 - 7/10

Al Pacino quite good as Jack Kevorkian, US physician who assisted 120 suicides.
With Susan Sarandon, John Goodman, Danny Huston, and … if you are over 40 … Brenda Vaccaro.
By turns funny, provocative, infuriating, sad.
Includes 10 minute documentary with cast & Dr. Kevorkian himself.
If I got a debilitating, agonizing disease I would want an exit option.
Might not take it, but I would want it available.
Overlong at 2 hours 14 minutes.

Frank Sinatra
Peggy Lee
Bessie Smith
Cristina Scabbia
Tom Jones (he was 75 when he cut his most recent album, and his pipes were still incredible)

Why Be Good? Sexuality & Censorship - 2008 - 6/10

Hugh Hefner produced documentary about risqué goings on in the Silent era and Pre Code Hollywood.
Slick rehashing of well worn terrain. Sex sells, it always has.
Folks who protested seldom went to movies anyway.
Onscreen and off, misdeeds included Fatty, the murder of William Desmond Taylor, mantraps Clara and Louise.
No mention of Convention City, Chaplin’s escapades, Gary Cooper, Flynn , etc …