The Wind Will Carry Us (Kiarostami, 1999)
Possibly my least favorite of the Kiarosatmis I have seen so far, it is none the less a lyrical and haunting portrayal of village life in Iran and moral bankruptcy in benign ways. Kiarostami's use of darkness in the cellar scene is mesmerizing.
Jason X (Isaac, 2001)
By far the best of the Jason films, this is a clever and actually scary chapter in the saga.
Through the Olive Trees (Kiarostami, 1994)
A comedy, a tragedy, a documentary. Kiarostami's 1994 masterpiece is an engrossing and intensely moving piece that made me happy to be alive. In its story of a film director, a boy and a girl the film reveals a universality to human existence as seen through the specificity of a tiny Iranian village. Funny, sad and, as far as I read the last shot, joyous Through the Olive Trees is one of the greatest works of cinematic art.
The Black Dahlia (De Palma, 2006)
Why, why Brian do you feel the need to tell a story here? That may sound ridiculous when discussing a murder-mystery but for the first two acts this film rides easily along on mood and setting. De Palma plays with his twin themes of voyeurism and obsession beautifully, and is back by brilliant performances by Swank and the ethereal Mia Kirshner. But once the story hits in act three and the exposition starts flying all the goodwill is brought to a screeching halt and we are just left cold. Hartnet isn't awfully, though Scarlett Johanson is, but it is hard to get past those atrocious last 20 minutes. Before that, however, there are a great number of things to cherish about the film.
Current 2006 Top Ten:
1. Miami Vice
2. United 93
3. A Prairie Home Companion
4. The Descent
5. An Inconvenient Truth
6. Dave Chapelle's Block Party
7. The Black Dahlia
8. Nacho Libre
9. Hard Candy
10. Thank You For Smoking
Possibly my least favorite of the Kiarosatmis I have seen so far, it is none the less a lyrical and haunting portrayal of village life in Iran and moral bankruptcy in benign ways. Kiarostami's use of darkness in the cellar scene is mesmerizing.
Jason X (Isaac, 2001)
By far the best of the Jason films, this is a clever and actually scary chapter in the saga.
Through the Olive Trees (Kiarostami, 1994)
A comedy, a tragedy, a documentary. Kiarostami's 1994 masterpiece is an engrossing and intensely moving piece that made me happy to be alive. In its story of a film director, a boy and a girl the film reveals a universality to human existence as seen through the specificity of a tiny Iranian village. Funny, sad and, as far as I read the last shot, joyous Through the Olive Trees is one of the greatest works of cinematic art.
The Black Dahlia (De Palma, 2006)
Why, why Brian do you feel the need to tell a story here? That may sound ridiculous when discussing a murder-mystery but for the first two acts this film rides easily along on mood and setting. De Palma plays with his twin themes of voyeurism and obsession beautifully, and is back by brilliant performances by Swank and the ethereal Mia Kirshner. But once the story hits in act three and the exposition starts flying all the goodwill is brought to a screeching halt and we are just left cold. Hartnet isn't awfully, though Scarlett Johanson is, but it is hard to get past those atrocious last 20 minutes. Before that, however, there are a great number of things to cherish about the film.
Current 2006 Top Ten:
1. Miami Vice
2. United 93
3. A Prairie Home Companion
4. The Descent
5. An Inconvenient Truth
6. Dave Chapelle's Block Party
7. The Black Dahlia
8. Nacho Libre
9. Hard Candy
10. Thank You For Smoking
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