Topic: The Movies from Within My Lifetime: 2012 Edition

[Achim]

The Movies from Within My Lifetime
2012 Edition

In this thread I will review one movie from each year of my life, 45 films from 1967 to 2012. The movies are listed here

[Achim]

Playtime (The Criterion Collection) (1967/France) The Criterion Collection, Les Films de Mon Oncle, Vivendi Universal (United States) Director: Jacques Tati Writing: Jacques Tati (Writer), Jacques Lagrange (Writer) Length: 125 min. Video: Widescreen 1.85:1 Audio: French: PCM: 2-Channel Stereo, English: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: English

Stars:
Barbara Dennek as Young Tourist
Rita Maïden as Mr. Schultz's Companion
France Rumilly as Woman Selling Eyeglasses
France Delahalle as Shopper in Department Store
Valérie Camille as Mr. Lacs's Secretary

Plot:
Jacques Tati’s gloriously choreographed, nearly wordless comedies about confusion in the age of technology reached their creative apex with Playtime. For this monumental achievement, a nearly three-year-long, bank-breaking production, Tati again thrust the endearingly clumsy, resolutely old-fashioned Monsieur Hulot, along with a host of other lost souls, into a bafflingly modernist Paris. With every inch of its superwide frame crammed with hilarity and inventiveness, Playtime is a lasting testament to a modern age tiptoeing on the edge of oblivion.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Interviews
• Cours du soir, short

My Thoughts:

Originally filmed for 70mm presentation the film naturally looses some of its glory on the small screen. Still, it's an interesting to watch Tati's alter ego Mr. Hulot struggle with the modern Paris, just like in parallel a group of tourists tries to see the sights but apparently has trouble to find them in the city jungle. The traditional sights are only quickly glimpsed in the distance or reflected in a window, the skyline is now ruled by identical glass facade buildings. Only towards the end in an unfortunately overlong restaurant scene does an American find a way to revive the old ways for a brief moment, which fades away quickly once the new day dawns and modern life takes its toll again while the tourist make their way back to the airport.

Since there is no story to speak of and only very little dialog I found the film to be too long. While there is loads of great characters populating the scenes it often takes too long to move on. But there are a few good laughs through funny background moments or typical Tati/Hulot slapstick and many scenes are a joy to watch for their photography and choreography alone (the Criterion's cover text promised). I guess some of the humor got lost in the years since the movie was made, because the caricature cannot be seen as clearly anymore, since it actually has become way of life.

Rating:

[Achim]

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968/United States) Warner Home Video (United States) Director: Stanley Kubrick Writing: Stanley Kubrick (Screenwriter), Arthur C. Clarke (Screenwriter) Length: 149 min. Video: Widescreen 2.20:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: PCM: 5.1, French: Dolby Digital: 5.1, German: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Italian: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Spanish: Dolby Digital: 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish

Stars:
Keir Dullea as Dr. Dave Bowman
Gary Lockwood as Dr. Frank Poole
William Sylvester as Dr. Heywood R. Floyd
Daniel Richter as Moonwatcher
Leonard Rossiter as Dr. Andreas Smyslov

Plot:
Stanley Kubrick's dazzling, Academy Award®-winning** achievement, a compelling drama of man vs. machine, a stunning meld of music and motion. Kubrick (who co-wrote the screenplay with Arthur C. Clarke) first visits our prehistoric ape-ancestry past, then leaps millennia (via one of the most mind-blowing jump cuts ever) into colonized space, and ultimately whisks astronaut Bowman (Keir Dullea) into uncharted realms of space, perhaps even into immortality. "Open the pod bay doors, HAL." Let an awesome journey unlike any other begin.

**1968: Best Visual Effects (Kubrick).

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Interviews

My Thoughts:

Franky, I never quite understood 2001: A Space Odyssey. I don't quite understand the thread of the black monolith and from the documentaries I have seen very few people have a strong understanding of what the last 30 minutes are supposed to be about. The film moves at a very slow pace and people not prepared for this may find that rather irritating. And still there is this fascination for the film even beyond it's beautiful looks (which hold up wonderfully even 44(!) years later). My favorite section is the story about HAL, followed closely by the opening about The Dawn of Man.

Rating:

[samuelrichardscott]

I saw this once, in my early years (12/13?) and was bored to tears. Obviously my tastes have developed a LOT since then and I keep meaning to check it out again. So many films... so little time!

[Najemikon]

I find Kubrick a bit cold, but I adore 2001. Probably saw it first when I was a kid and watched it properly a couple more times since. I find the first sequence strangely moving while even the mundane mechanics of moon politics don't slow it down for me. And of course the whole HAL section and the psychedelic evolution is just spell-binding.

It's inception is fascinating, with many people assuming it is an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's book, but in fact it was a true collaboration with both the book and the film developed in sync, influencing one another. I remember reading a fairly recent Empire article which included interviews with Clarke and it's also interesting how bits you would assume were down to Kubrick were actually his, and vice versa.

Empire don't have that article on their site, but I did find their 'Essay' version of the review. It echoes much of what I had interpreted, especially the relation between why the apes do what they do and why HAL goes nuts and the meaning of the consequences. You might find it interesting, but it's important to remember that no-one really knows what it actually means! In that sense, it is pure cinema.

http://www.empireonline.com/reviews/reviewcomplete.asp?FID=132770

[Achim]

It's inception is fascinating, with many people assuming it is an adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke's book, but in fact it was a true collaboration with both the book and the film developed in sync, influencing one another.

You might find it interesting, but it's important to remember that no-one really knows what it actually means! In that sense, it is pure cinema.

I learned both these points from the documentary included in the set (A Life In Pictures).

I think in relation to apes Hal's behavior could have been made clearer if the presence of the monolith had been made obvious a little earlier. Unless they didn't mean his "motivation" came from the monolith.


EDIT:
First time I saw it was as a teenager. We rented it on video with a bunch of friends. It was my choice and let me tell you, the others were not happy I saw it again a few yers later at a spiel screening in a cinema. I may have seen it once after that. The pace makes it necessary to be in the required mood when watching...

[Achim]

The Italian Job (Widescreen Collection) (1969/United Kingdom) Paramount Home Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Peter Collinson Writing: Troy Kennedy Martin (Writer) Length: 95 min. Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: English: Dolby Digital: 5.1, English: Dolby Digital: Mono, German: Dolby Digital: Mono, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles: Arabic, Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish, Commentary

Stars:
Michael Caine as Charlie Croker
Noël Coward as Mr. Bridger
Benny Hill as Professor Simon Peach
Raf Vallone as Altabani
Tony Beckley as Freddie

Plot:
Charlie Croker (Michael Caine) is out of jail and on the make with an ingenious plan for the heist of the century. Aided and abetted by top criminal mastermind Mr Bridger (Noël Coward), Charlie sets off with an ace team of villains and three very special minis to lift $4,000,000 from under the noses of the Turin Polizei. The trouble is, with the cops and the Mafia on his tail, Charlie finds that grabbing the money is kid's stuff compared to getting away with it.....

This action packed comedy drama is an all-time cult classic of the 60's, with the craziest car chase in movie history and an incredible cliff hanger finale, The Italian Job is the caper movie to beat them all.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes

My Thoughts:

A very British comedy with a heist film mixed in for good measure. The film is split in half between the preparation of the job and the actual execution. Especially Michael Caine, Noël Coward and Benny Hill are enjoying themselves. Good camera work and mostly well written dialog make this 90 minutes well spent.

When in Italy Michael Caine reminds the others: In this country the drive on the wrong side of the road.

Rating:

[Achim]

The Big Doll House (Roger Corman's Cult Classics) (1971/United States) Shout! Factory (United States) Director: Jack Hill Writing: Don Spencer (Screenwriter) Length: 95 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 2-Channel Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles:

Stars:
Judy Brown as Collier
Pam Grier as Grear
Sid Haig as Harry
Christiane Schmidtmer as Miss Dietrich
Kathryn Loder as Lucian

Plot:
Pam Grier (Jackie Brown) joins a group of sexy, young female prisoners in their struggle against a sadistic warden in Big Doll House. This shockingly real film is perhaps one of the most influential of all women-in-prison films! Also starring Judy Brown, Roberta Collins (Death Race 2000) and Sid Haig (House Of 1,000 Corpses). Directed by Jack Hill (Spider Baby, Foxy Brown).

Extras:

• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Interviews

My Thoughts:

This is a Roger Corman produced exploitation film and going in with the right expectations there is a lot of fun to be had. The acting is somewhere between solid (Haig, Grier, Brown) to mediocre; although one cannot be sure if with Schmidtmer as the prisons warden the broad acting was part of the intent or not There is the obligational nudity and the a fair share of violence, even cruelty. I wish they had followed up on the rather casual mentioning of the revolutionary boyfriend, but I guess that would have been beyond the film's scope, especially given Corman's mantra that at 90min the movie must wrap up. The story took some time to get its focus but then moved along nicely and with competent direction.

The Blu-ray looks fine (although I would imagine merely on par with the DVD) but the sound is quite terrible, coming from an apparently rather deteriorated source.

Rating:

[Achim]

The Woman (2011/United States) Revolver Entertainment (United Kingdom) Director: Lucky McKee Writing: Jack Ketchum (Writer), Lucky McKee (Writer), Jack Ketchum (Original Material By), Lucky McKee (Original Material By) Length: 103 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1, English: PCM: 2-Channel Stereo Subtitles:

Stars:
Pollyanna McIntosh as The Woman
Sean Bridgers as Chris Cleek
Angela Bettis as Belle Cleek
Lauren Ashley Carter as Peggy Cleek
Zach Rand as Brian Cleek

Plot:
From Lucky McKee (May) and Jack Ketchum (The Girl Next Door) comes the hugely acclaimed The Woman – an immensely powerful and brutal horror with a killer soundtrack and an unforgettably savage climax!

(click to show/hide)

The Woman (Pollyanna McIntosh – Exam) is the last surviving member of a violent clan that has roamed the American wilderness for decades. Now she is alone, severely wounded... and vulnerable. When successful country lawyer Chris Cleek stumbles upon her whilst hunting, he decides to capture and "civilise" her – a decision that will soon threaten the lives of Cleek, his family and The Woman herself...

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Bonus Trailers
• Deleted Scenes
• Featurettes
• Short Film, Music Track 'Distracted' by Sean Spillane

My Thoughts:

If you intend to see this, I strongly suggest to do so without to much knowledge of what is happening. The film is about the characters, in fact it is more about the family than the titular Woman and it is much better to experience fresh. In fact, if you already made your mind up, stop reading now

This is an excellently made film. After finishing it I felt it's a shame that the extreme gore of the climax will keep some audiences away, which the film deserves so much otherwise. The film opens by introducing us to the main characters and only after a few minutes we have a very good idea who we are dealing with, or so we think. Then we continue to observe the family and like a multi-layered onion we discover more and more what they are about as each layer gets peeled away. I found my self looking at the screen with a dropped jaw multiple times. All the way to the well-edited climax (it cuts back and forth between various  story lines without loosing track of any of them) we are surprised and shocked.

I could not fault with any of the acting in this. The direction is clear and the editing excellent. The music was a little obvious sometimes, never good for a soundtrack. So far I liked everything I have seen of Lucky McKee (his two Master of Horror episodes as well as The Woods) and I will certainly look out for what he does next.

Rating:

P.S.: Jon's in-depth review can be found here.

[goodguy]

The Woman[/size] (2011/United States)
...
...and like a multi-layered onion we discover more and more what they are about as each layer gets peeled away. I found my self looking at the screen with a dropped jaw multiple times.
...
P.S.: Jon's in-depth review can be found here.

I said my piece already in reply to Jon's review. One of my misgivings was that the film does play the shock and surprise angle, but never succeeds, because it is all telegraphed long before it happens.

[Achim]

I said my piece already in reply to Jon's review. One of my misgivings was that the film does play the shock and surprise angle, but never succeeds, because it is all telegraphed long before it happens.

I had looked back at the other thread but didn't necessarily want to reopen the discussion. I found certin things to appear telegraphed, but some only in hind sight. I did not quite expect...

(click to show/hide)

that final reveal in the dog shed. Or that Peg was abused by her father. Of course I got it before the scene with the teacher, but I also didn't see it announced in the first few minutes. I felt the reveal was when the father sits at her bed and the mother walks up behind them; which is where they intended it to be.

And to their credit, to genuinely surprise an audience today is really hard, we've seen it all! In fact, sometimes I wonder if the surprise will be A or B...

[Najemikon]

Glad you liked it, Achim! Thanks for the link. Did you watch the extras? Very good, especially the Q&A panel.

[Achim]

Glad you liked it, Achim! Thanks for the link. Did you watch the extras? Very good, especially the Q&A panel.

I was quite surprised at how much I liked it.

The Q&A was quite informative (your recommendation put the UK release in favor over the US version) but I found there was a tad too much shoulder patting gooing on. Well, I ordered Offsping after seeing it, which will function as a sort of prequel to The Woman (well, it came first really...).

[Achim]

Amélie (2001/France) Original Title: Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain Lionsgate (United States) Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Writing: Guillaume Laurant (Writer), Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Writer) Length: 122 min. Video: Widescreen 2.35:1 Audio: French: DTS-HD Master Audio: 5.1 Subtitles: English, Spanish

Stars:
Audrey Tautou as Amélie Poulain
Mathieu Kassovitz as Nino Quincampoix
Rufus as Raphaël Poulain
Lorella Cravotta as Amandine Poulain
Serge Merlin as Raymond Dufayel

Plot:
The City of Lights sparkles in this "delightful and original" (Boston Globe) quirky comedy that garnered 5 Academy Award® nominations.† At a tiny Parisian café, the adorable yet painfully shy Amelie accidentally discovers a gift for helping others. Soon Amelie is spending her days as a Cupid, guardian angel and all-around do-gooder. But when she bumps into a handsome stranger, will she find the courage to become the star of her very own love story? Audrey Tautou (The Da Vinci Code) shines in this "lighthearted fantasy" (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times) that stole the hearts of audiences and critics worldwide.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Audio Commentary
• Feature Trailers
• Featurettes
• Gallery
• Interviews
• Storyboard Comparisons

My Thoughts:

A wonderful little film about a young woman doing good for others (which occasionally involves playing pranks on a thrid party) but forgetting for a while to take care of her own life. The story itself is rather thin, it is all about seeing Amelie doing all those things to improve other people's life without those people realising that somebody is pushing the buttons. But her actions are so sweet and seeing the funny and heartwarming results so engaging that I didn't find myself bored at any time.

The whole piece is very well written and plays out very cinematically. Very often the key information is not actually uttered out loud but merely hinted at through other dialog and the actor's fine details, leaving the audience to connect the dots themselves. All this and the cinematic style of Jeunet (think Delicatessen, not Alien 4) make for a very satisfying experience despite the lack of a deeper story.

The only think I could not get into is the visual style he chose, bathing the image in a yellow tint the whole time. While it gives the movie an unreal look it felt a bit grating by the time the end credits came along. (I don't think it's a transfer issue either, my previous region 3 DVD had the same look).

Rating:

[Achim]

The Delta Force (1986/United States) MGM Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (United States) Director: Menahem Golan Writing: James Bruner (Writer), Menahem Golan (Writer) Length: 129 min. Video: Widescreen 1.78:1 Audio: English: DTS-HD Master Audio: 2-Channel Stereo, French: DTS-HD Master Audio: Mono, Italian: DTS-HD Master Audio: Mono, German: DTS: 2-Channel Stereo, Spanish: DTS-HD Master Audio: Mono Subtitles: Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

Stars:
Chuck Norris as Scott
Lee Marvin as Nick
Martin Balsam as Ben Kaplan
Joey Bishop as Harry Goldman
Robert Forster as Abdul

Plot:
Political extremists have taken innocent people hostage...and only super-soldiers Chuck Norris and Lee Marvin can rescue them in this "astounding mix of fact, fantasy and heavy-duty adventure" (Variety). Co-starring Martin Balsam and Shelley Winters, The Delta Force is over two hours of nonstop, explosive, wal-to-wall action!

When a U.S. passenger place is seized by vicous hijackers and taken to Beirut, the president calls in The Delta Force — a crack team of commandos led by Colonel Nick Alexander (Marvin) and Major Scott McCoy (Norris). Against all odds, the men blast into the compound and — taking no prisoners — rescue the hostages. But the mission is not yet over. A few remaining passengers are being "escorted" to Teheran, initiating a desperate race against time as Alexander and McCoy try to save them — and avenge America's honor — before it's too late.

Extras:

• Scene Access
• Feature Trailers

My Thoughts:

A very mixed bag of a film. The acting ranges from adequate to cheesy all the way to terrible; some of the old school actors give good performances, most of all Robert Forster, while for example Hanna Schygulla and Lee Marvin simply don't seem to care and yet others simply just can't. Then again, the story really has some interesting beats to it, like making the hijackers somewhat compassionate and not just downright despicable. But of course Menahem Golan is a producer turned director and he struggles a lot with putting this thing together (many of the bad performances are probably because of his lack of direction). But, while the other than promised on the cover only about an hour into the film, once the action gets going there is fun to be had, and after all, that's what we are here for.

Despite the cover of the Blu-ray and the marketing, this is not a pure Chuck Norris film. I'd almost call it an ensemble piece, with Lee Marvin, Hanna Schygulla and most of all Robert Forster having just as much screen time as Chuck.

Rating: