The biggest downer of the month was season one of HBO's Entourage, which in terms of narrative arc is really more of a plateau. I judged the first season forgivingly, though, because it always takes time for a series show to find who its characters are and to solidify the show's narrative direction. This forgiving sentiment will change, as you will see, in the next month as I caught up on the next three seasons of this ridiculous male-centricity. But to switch gears completely, I'd rather focus here on "the movie of the month," a movie so good I cannot be distracted by the quirks of a soft-core T&A cable TV show.
Claude Chabrol's A Girl Cut in Two (2008) was a sheer visual delight, and reminded me greatly of Alain Resnais's Private Fears in Public Places (2006), both in terms of visual style and narrative tone. Plus Ludivine Sagnier, as TV weather girl, Gabrielle, is beautiful and wonderfully exciting to watch. She's like the French antithesis of Gossip Girl's vacuous Serena (Blake Lively), full of life, sexuality and authority. What can I say? I adore her.On with the list I go. To quickly wrap up this month and move on to October, which was another phenomenal success in cinema viewing--not only in volume, but in quality of film--this shall be posted as a simple, smart list accompanied by a superb still image from le image archive de Google. Rare indeed.
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days - (2007) - DVD
Seen: Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Border Incident - (1949) - DVD
Seen: Thursday, September 4, 2008
Perfect editing in this industrial/social message film by Anthony Mann, shows us scenes of horror without a second of splattery gore.
Notre Musique - (2004) - DVD
Seen: Friday, September 5, 2008
Pure cinema! What a delight!
Down By Law - (1986) - DVD
Seen: Saturday, September 6, 2008
This is also mentioned over on the other blog.
Two or Three Things I Know About Her - (1967) - Film
Seen: Tuesday, September 9, 2008
I Was Born, But... - (1932) - Film
Seen: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
No doubt one of my all-time favorite flicks. Top 10-ish at least, don't you think? (Also here.)
Be Kind Rewind - (2008) - DVD
Seen: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
One of the top ten movies of 2008! (Can you believe this list will be finalized in just another month?) It was a great nightcap.
Entourage: Season 1, episodes 1-8 - (2004) - DVD
Seen: Saturday, September 12, 2008 - Wednesday, September 17, 2008
(trying to smile and not make it look fake. trying, trying...)
The Last Frontier - (1955) - DVD
Seen: Sunday, September 14, 2008
Awesome handheld camera movements and scenery, and a totally erratic character played by the cumbersome and dark Victor Mature. More written about it, again, at the other blog.
Aguirre The Wrath of God - (1972) - DVD
Seen: Monday, September 15, 2008
Another incredible feat of cinema! The location and scenery! The seamless camera work! How Herzog managed to not fall off the mountain/precipice/raft while shooting!
Made - (2001) - DVD
Seen: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Ahh. I found this underwhelming and suffocating under the constraints of too much formula. The sobering climax with his adopted daughter felt too heavy and awkward. The image above, however, is from my personal favorite scene of the movie, wherein Vince Vaughn has an onscreen exchange with his real life dad. Cute.
Elegy - (2008) - Film
Seen: Sunday, September 21, 2008
Adored this movie.
3:10 To Yuma - (1957) - DVD
Seen: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
And I mean the original 1957 version with Glenn Ford at his spookiest. The 2007 remake, to me, remains unwatchable.
Man on Wire - (2008) - Film
Seen: Saturday, September 27, 2008
Oh my god, he walked on a wire across the World Trade Center towers. Oh my god, he walked on a wire across the World Trade Center towers!
A Girl Cut In Two - (2008) - Film
Seen: Sunday, September 28, 2008
Perfect!
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