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Movies from 2012 that I recommend
So realistic that they seem redundant.
Reviews
Meyer aus Berlin (1919)
Lubitsch's early career
To us nowadays, Ernst Lubitsch is known as the director of 1930s and 1940s romcoms incorporating what became known as the Lubitsch touch (wherein humor resulted from ambiguity, possibly implying some innuendo). Most people nowadays might not know that Lubitsch started out as an actor in some German movies. He played Sally Meyer, a character that was basically a Jewish stereotype, so the movies usually aren't the most accessible. One of the entries that he also directed is "Meyer aus Berlin" ("Meyer from Berlin" in English), long thought lost until a copy got found in the Netherlands.
Lubitsch stars as the scheming Meyer, who wants to get away from his wife, so he feigns an illness. The only thing is, he ends up going on an unexpected adventure! I guess that the Jewish stereotype makes it hard to actually enjoy the movie, but in general it is pretty funny. It's available on Wikipedia.
Yo soy la Juani (2006)
some like it Madrilenian
Previously I'd only seen a couple of Bigas Luna's movies. His "Yo soy la Juani" ("My Name Is Juani" in English) was his second-to-last movie, focusing on a girl and her friend who leave their dismal existence and loser boyfriends in a small town and head to the big city to find their fortune. This is one movie that truly evokes its era, with a pulse-pounding soundtrack and a couple of fast montages. No shortage of sex, either.
I wouldn't call this Bigas's best movie that I've seen; I thought "Jamón jamón" and "Golden Balls" were more profound in dealing with gender issues in Spain. Even so, it's a brisk look at Spain's youth in the aughts and gives one a sense of the culture. So far, every Bigas movie that I've seen has been worth checking out.
PS: Bigas Luna's full name is José Bigas Luna, so he should get listed under Bigas per the Spanish naming system.
Tickets (2005)
a new adventure aboard a train
I knew pretty much nothing about "Tickets" before watching it, except that Ken Loach was involved in it, so I suspected that there was going to be some social issue addressed therein. It turned out to be sort of an anthology movie, with a whole sequence directed by three people (in addition to Loach, Ermanno Olmi and Abbas Kiarostami participated).
The movie takes place aboard a train going from Innsbruck to Rome, and looks at the experiences of some of a professor, an elderly woman, and some sports fans. I could tell that the last one was Loach's work, since it was the most socially conscious.
In the end, I wouldn't call it the greatest output from any of the directors, but it's an interesting enough movie for its runtime. It sure makes one wish that the US had the kind of train system that Europe has (or that Japan has).
Spy Kids (2001)
this comes across differently due to a later Rodriguez movie
Okay, so Robert Rodriguez's "Spy Kids" is undeniably an example of escapist family entertainment. If you accept it as such, then you'll be able to enjoy it. What I liked most was Alan Cumming's performance; I have yet to see a movie in which I disliked Alan Cumming's performance.
Here's something else. Danny Trejo's character is named Machete. Anyone who likes tributes to exploitation cinema will remember that in 2007, the Robert Rodriguez-Quentin Tarantino collaboration "Grindhouse" featured a mock ad for a movie called "Machete"...which Rodriguez later turned into a real movie starring Trejo as an out-of-work federal agent who goes medieval in protecting Texas's Latino population.
If the movie has any unlikable qualities, then it's seeing Harvey Weinstein's name in the credits (obviously most people in 2001 didn't know what he was doing). Other than that, it's a fun movie. I suspect that they had fun filming it.
I hope that in the years to come, Carla Gugino gets more recognition as an actress.
The Regeneration (1915)
Walsh looks at the gritty
I first learned of Raoul Walsh when I was nine and one of his movies came on TV, a western whose title I don't remember. I later learned that he started out as an actor, notably appearing as John Wilkes Booth in "The Birth of a Nation". Walsh directed his first feature in the form of the original gangster movie, "The Regeneration".
Preceding the more famous "Little Caesar" by over a decade, Walsh's look at a man driven to a life of crime casts a number of hoodlums and prostitutes. Filmed on New York's streets, some of the hard-hitting qualities have probably lessened in the years since (after all, we're more used to the likes of "The Godfather"), but what it lacks in intensity it makes up for in style. Walsh was one director who knew how to use lighting and camera angle to his advantage.
While not the most recognizable movie, it's available on Wikipedia. Worth seeing, if only as a historical reference.
Not Going Quietly (2021)
and then, so much progress got turned back
The recent election essentially turns "Not Going Quietly" into a form of nostalgia. This focus on Ady Barkan's quest to convince the government not to weaken healthcare really hits hard, especially when you see him meet with Kamala Harris.
Like "Sicko", this documentary is a call for single-payer healthcare (also called national healthcare or Medicare for All). It just makes one wonder why the US stands alone among industrialized countries in depriving its citizens of this crucial service.
As for Ady Barkan, he died last year, so he didn't live to see the US turn its back on his legacy. So sad that we did.
The Haunted House (1921)
from a bank to something spooky
With Buster Keaton becoming an established star, he appeared in "The Haunted House". Despite the title, only a bit of the movie takes place in one. Keaton plays a bank teller who has a series of mishaps involving glue, after which he, the bank robbers, and some opera performers end up in a residence presumed to have spooks.
I wouldn't call it Keaton's best, but the gags in the bank are to die for. Basically, Keaton was all about physical comedy, which is probably why his career started faltering once cinema turned to sound. Either way, we can now watch his classics whenever we want - this one's available on Wikipedia - and enjoy them. You'll love this one.
My Effortless Brilliance (2008)
it seems that someone can't tell the difference between what an indie can be and what it should be
After I saw Lynn Shelton's impressive "Your Sister's Sister", I decided that I should eventually see another one of her movies. Unfortunately, it was the pointless "My Effortless Brilliance". This movie has neither a plot nor a a resolution, and the handheld camerawork is some of the most distracting that I've ever seen in a movie. Anyone would think that the movie is the result of a bunch of stoners getting together over the weekend and filming whatever happens. Usually it's only Terrence Malick who makes movies this pointless.
Look, there are plenty of excellent non-Hollywood movies out there (in my memory, John Sayles has never made a bad movie). I guess that this movie was trying to be part of the mumblecore movement, but its complete lack of any purpose means that there's no reason to see it.
Birth (2004)
we make life our own
Jonathan Glazer came to my attention earlier this year when "The Zone of Interest" won Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, and Glazer gave the most important acceptance speech of the night. It turned out that I'd already seen two of his movies before that ("Sexy Beast" and "Under the Skin", neither of which I liked). Since I now knew his name, I decided to watch his one feature film that I hadn't seen: 2004's "Birth".
This story of a boy who claims to be a woman's late husband was probably one of the awkwardest movies to make. Don't get me wrong, it's a well made movie with a good plot and good acting. It's just that the some of the scenes - and one scene in particular - must've been a little unpleasant to film. I guess that it just reminds us that we can't always know everything about everyone.
Anyway, worth seeing. Nicole Kidman, Danny Huston, Lauren Bacall, Peter Stormare, Anne Heche, and newcomer Cameron Bright put on fine performances.
Dark Matter (2024)
"We see things not as they are, but as we are." - Anaïs Nin
The latest impressive show from Apple TV+ is "Dark Matter", which uses quantum superposition as its gist. I should note that I haven't read the novel on which it's based, but even without that, the series is unlike anything that you've ever seen.
A particularly interesting facet is how one's thoughts can affect a reality. It makes one wonder if in fact there are parallel worlds out there, and whether or not there's a way to access them.
All in all, a fine miniseries. Joel Edgerton, Jennifer Connelly, Alice Braga and the other cast members put on excellent - and chilling - performances. Definitely check out this show if you get a chance.
The Rough House (1917)
You see what people mean when they say physical comedy?
In cinema's infancy, most of the comedy involved gags. That's very much apparent in "The Rough House", starring and jointly directed by Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton. The plot involves a get-together beset by one mishap after another (i.e., when Arbuckle's character accidentally starts a fire).
Keaton was only getting started in cinema, so Arbuckle is the star here. His physique certainly abets the comedy. I understand that not many of his movies survive due to his career having suffered after the death of an actress at a party that he was hosting. It's too bad, because he obviously had a lot of talent. Basically, this is the sort of movie that you can enjoy if you're willing to accept a bunch of silly stuff.
The Floor Below (1918)
Here's what happened because of where it got found:
Obviously, we're only able to watch "The Floor Below" today because a copy of the movie got found in a collector's estate in Amsterdam. Because of that, all the intertitles are in Dutch, so I had a basic understanding of the plot (it's available on Wikipedia). It's nothing noteworthy, with Mabel Normand playing a woman working for a newspaper hired to go undercover, only to fall for the man she's supposed to report on.
I guess that if you're a silent cinema completist, then you'll want to see this. Otherwise, nothing much about it stood out to me, although that could be because I couldn't understand the Dutch intertitles. Good acting all around and well edited.
Giantess Battle Attack (2022)
I think that it's clear what the emphasis is
I learned of Jim Wynorski in summer 2001 when I rented his "Chopping Mall" from the neighborhood video store (people who only knew Blockbuster have no idea what they missed by shunning hole-in-the-wall video stores). I didn't see any of his work again until I happened to come across a number of his later movies on Tubi (basically a non-subscription version of Netflix or Hulu).
Anyway, "Giantess Battle Attack" is very much made for fourteen-year-old boys. One scene in particular makes clear who the target audience is. Between this movie, "Bigfoot or Bust" and "Murderbot", I think that it's safe to say Jim Wynorski has the same sort of mind Mel Brooks has.
Easy to enjoy if you're in the mood for nice, brainless fun.
Le temps du loup (2003)
you just know something's coming
"Le temps du loup" ("Time of the Wolf" in English) probably looked like a warning when it got released. Now it looks like a reminder. Michael Haneke's post-apocalyptic thriller depicts a family wondering across France after a disastrous event - whose cause and nature never get identified - and coming across a colony of survivors expecting a train. But even in this colony, you'd better know how to defend yourself.
The movie's gist is that in the event of societal collapse, it'll be every man for himself. Our primeval instincts will take over, revealing that we're not as detached from the rest of the animal kingdom as we like to think. Certainly not something for which the western lifestyle has prepared us.
This movie has plenty of shocking scenes, but all of them add to the story. It's not a movie that you'll forget easily. Isabelle Huppert, Daniel Duval, Anaïs Demoustier, Lucas Biscombe and the rest of the cast turn in gripping performances.
Woman of the Hour (2023)
when the night of dreams turns into a nightmare
Anna Kendrick makes her film debut with "Woman of the Hour", the true story of the night that "The Dating Game" contestants included a serial killer in the late '70s. I had never heard of this story before seeing the movie, but it's one of the most fascinating - and shocking - stories of all.
Kendrick plays Sheryl, the woman choosing between three men on the show, unaware that one of them has murdered several people. Not knowing the story made the movie all the more suspenseful. I understand that the movie changed a number of things about the story, but Kendrick still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. All that I can say is that Anna Kendrick has affirmed herself as one of her generation's greatest actresses, and I hope she directs more movies in the future.
Perfect Days (2023)
Wim Wenders always has great ideas
I first learned of Wim Wenders when my parents rented his "Until the End of the World". I've seen a number of his works since then, including his latest. The Academy Award-nominated "Perfect Days" is basically about serenity and enjoying what there is. The protagonist is a toilet cleaner in Tokyo. He doesn't have much, but enough, and he finds the beauty in everything (while taking pleasure in songs from the days of yore). A lot of the emotions and communications get expressed through gestures and expressions as he sees many of the same things and people.
You might say that the movie's gist is that we can admire what's around us without needing the latest objects. Wenders captures just about every feeling with this movie, and I'd say that if you want to go to Japan, you should see it as a reminder that there's more to the Land of the Rising Sun than we usually hear about. A fine movie in every way.
Chik loh dak gung (2002)
there's a reason why Hong Kong cinema is some of the most entertaining
Sometimes, you just have to accept that not all cinema has to be the sort of material that we got from Kurosawa, Fellini or Kubrick. Sometimes it's just brain candy. Nowhere is that more obvious than with Siu-tung Ching's "Chik loh dak gung" (called "Naked Weapon" in English). This exercise in nice, brainless fun has a female assassin - trained ever since she and a bunch of other girls got kidnapped and taken to an island - out to take charge. Since there are people after her, it's time for some truly awesome tricks.
Basically, it's the sort of movie that you watch if you want to kick back and enjoy yourself. Nothing deep about it, just silly stuff. The cast includes Maggie Q, Daniel Wu, and the recently deceased Chang Pei-pei (Jade Fox in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon").
One Week (1920)
A dreamhouse or a nightmare one?
The title "One Week" may evoke the Barenaked Ladies song, but it should be obvious that Buster Keaton's 1920 comedy has nothing to do with that. Building a house only to see a bunch of things go wrong are an occasional topic of comedy (Mr. Blanding Builds His Dream House, The Money Pit). In this case, it's a silent movie, so it's all about the gags. And boy are there a ton of them! One thing that you gotta say about Buster Keaton is that it must've been fun to participate in his movies, just to get to witness the wackiness in real time. You're sure to laugh consistently while watching this one. And damned if Sybil Seely wasn't a real babe.
Mortel transfert (2001)
Analyze what?
"Mortel transfert" ("Mortal Transfer" in English) is the first Jean-Jacques Beineix movie that I've seen; it turns out to have been his final theatrical film before he died. Certainly an intense one; a real Hitchcockian vibe to it. In addition to the basic plot, it drives home questions about the ethics of one's job, especially with regard to a psychoanalyst's patients.
I will say that the non-intense scenes tend to drag, but the intense scenes make up for that. It's not a masterpiece, but most of it kept me on the edge of my seat. I hope to see the rest of Beineix's movies now.
Just think about it the next time that you go to Père Lachaise.
Heretic (2024)
Mormon baits
If you learned of Hugh Grant from his appearances in romantic comedies in the mid-1990s, then it probably impressed you to see him start to play different roles as the years went by, including "The Undoing". Well, now we have a completely different role. "Heretic" depicts a pair of Mormon missionaries who try to convert a man, only for him to start playing mind tricks on them. This is probably the most intense movie that I've seen this year. Its basic gist is that religion is as much a moneymaking enterprise as any private company.
I recommend the movie, but just remember that you're in for some shocks. I suspect that the faithful will not be a bit happy with the movie, while the nonbelievers will eat it up.
I see that the directors cast Hugh Grant based on his performance in "Cloud Atlas". I recommend that one also. It offered a far deeper and more complex look at humanity's past and future than did the cliched, overblown "Interstellar".
What You Wish For (2023)
Is it appropriate to call this a biting satire?
To the pantheon of movies that suddenly change direction we can add Nicholas Tomnay's "What You Wish For". Nick Stahl plays a debt-ridden chef to goes to a Latin American country to stay with a friend. When he gets the chance to assume his friend's identity, he soon learns that there's a dark side to the friend's life.
This isn't a horror movie, merely a thriller. And believe me, what ends up happening is definitely a shocker. The sad thing is that it sounds like the sort of thing that some people might actually do. Aside from that, the movie manages to play with the audience, much like how "Psycho" does.
In conclusion, check the movie out. You won't be disappointed, but certainly disturbed.
Bigfoot or Bust (2022)
definitely more bust than Bigfoot
If you've seen most of Jim Wynorski's movies, then you should have an idea of what to expect with "Bigfoot or Bust". Specifically, it depicts multiple groups of big-breasted gals in search of a Sasquatch. The movie makes no pretense about what it is. There's nothing particularly memorable about the movie, unless you count cleavage as memorable. My all-time favorite of Wynorski's movies remains 1986's "Chopping Mall", which introduced me to his work (I happened to come across it in my neighborhood video store in summer 2001; people who only knew Blockbuster had no idea what they missed by not going to neighborhood video stores).
Anyway, little more than an excuse to show off buxom babes. A totally silly movie.
Strike Me Deadly (1963)
neither good nor bad, just average
A few years ago I made a list of movies that I still wanted to see, ranked by year. Having watched a number of them, I made a second list of movies that I haven't seen, ranked by director. One of the directors on the list is Ted V. Mikels. I saw the presentation of his "Girl in Gold Boots" on "Mystery Science Theater 3000" many years ago, but now I've seen his directorial debut, 1963's "Strike Me Deadly".
This look at a man and his girlfriend trying to escape a killer amid a forest fire isn't a good or bad movie, just average. The forest fire adds some extra tension, but mostly it's nothing innovative. I will say Jeannine Riley's a real babe, though.
Worth seeing if you're interested in the director's early works.
The Natural History of the Chicken (2000)
cluck of the draw
I'd read about Mark Lewis before, but I've finally seen one of his documentaries. "The Natural History of the Chicken" focuses on hens and roosters, as well as some people who own these domesticated birds. These folks have quite a few stories to tell about their feathered friends, and it gives one a newfound respect for the clucking birds.
I've never grown up around chickens, except when occasionally staying with some family acquaintances when I was little. Either way, it's impressive to see what amazing creatures they are. You're in for a real surprise with the story of Mike (I would've assumed it to be a hoax). A great documentary.
I Created Lancelot Link (1999)
my introduction to Lance Link
I had never heard of "Lancelot Link: Secret Chimp" before watching this, so it was all a surprise for me. For "I Created Lancelot Link", Jeff Krulik went and interviewed the show's creators Stan Burns and Mike Marmer, and the two explained how the show came about and also the behind-the-scenes tricks to make things happen onscreen.
I might one day watch the show. In the meantime, I recommend this documentary (you can find it on YouTube). It makes one wonder what sorts of tricks other shows used before CGI was a thing. A lot of fun.
In conclusion, this documentary short truly made a monkey out of me!