The Piano (1993, dir. Campion) - Many consider this a classic. Everyone considers it an Australian classic. Is it? IS IT REALLY?
...well, duh. I finally got a chance to check this movie out in it's entirety and colour me impressed.
I think one of the greatest things in films is when they can take a simple story (say, for instance a woman who loves to play the piano becoming a mail-order bride) and turn into works of art through the powers of dialogue (or lack there of) and images. And what a beautiful film it is. The music, the cinematography, the acting - what acting! Holly Hunter is so sublime. Anna Paquin takes a tricky role for a child and embodies it with enough childness and maturity that it works. Sam Neill does his intense thing well and Harvey Keitel is all potboiling anxiety. Those nude scenes? He gets away with them without coming off as silly or "oh, look at Harvey Keitel's pennis" comments. Great movie. A
Trois Couleurs: Bleu, Blanc, Rouge (1993, 94, 94, dir. Kieslowski) - Blue and Red are really good, let me get that out of the way. Both feature great performances and are beautiful to watch. White, the middle film of Kieslowski's trilogy, on the other hand is a complete mess. Truly, what on earth was going on there? It was boring, ugly, pretentious and stupid. The plot twists are rediculous and the only moment of any greatness is the very end (which i think is slightly usurped by the ending of Rouge. Still, I don't know how the trilogy as a whole says anything about "contempory French culture" or whatever the box said. B+, C-, B+
About Me
- Glenn Dunks
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Glenn is a twentysomething freelance writer from Melbourne, Australia. Apart from this blog he is the film editor for Onya Magazine and writes regularly for Trespass Magazine. His work has appeared in The Big Issue, Encore Magazine, Forte Magazine, The Film Experience Blog and was the film correspondent for The Outland Institute radio program on JOY 94.4.
Stale Popcorn, noun, 1. A veritable cornucopia of movie geekdom, celebrity worship, Australian film discussion and all with occasional musical interludes! All wrapped up in the salty buttery taste of movie popcorn that's been sitting in the box for too long. What's not to love?
Films of 2007:
- 'The Hitcher', 2007, dir. Meyers, C-
- 'Hairspray', (x2), 2007, dir. Shankman, B+ / A- (review)
- 'Stardust', 2007, dir. Vaughn, B-
- 'The Jammed', 2007, dir. McLachlan, B+
- 'The Host', 2007, dir. Bong, C / C+ (review)
- '300', 2007, dir. Snyder, C- (review)
- 'Becoming Jane', 2007, dir. Jarrold, C+ (review)
- 'Hairspray', 2007, dir. Shankman, B+ (review)
- 'Ratatouille', 2007, dir. Bird, A (review)
- 'Diggers', 2007, dir. Dieckmann, B-
- (x# = number of viewings)
Miscellaneous Viewings:
- 'The Great New Wonderful', 2006, dir. Leiner, C
- 'Wings of Desire', 1987, dir. Wenders, A
- 'The Fluffer', 2001, dir. Glatzor & Westmoreland, C
- 'Bringing Out the Dead', 1999, dir. Scorsese, B
- 'Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream', 2005, dir. Samuels, B+
- 'The Interpreter', (x2), 2005, dir. Pollack, B+
- 'Notorious C.H.O.', (x10+) 2002, dir. Machado, A
- 'I'm the One that I Want', (x10+) 2000, dir. Coleman, A
- 'Funny Games', 1997, dir. Haneke, C- (review)
- 'Sleepless in Seattle', (xCountless), 1993, dir. Ephron, A (so shoot me!)
- (x#) = Multiple (#) Viewing
Cinema of the Absurd
- 'Glitter', 2001, dir. Hall
- 'How to Deal', 2003, dir. Kilner
- 'The Black Dahlia', 2006, dir. De Palma
- 'Friday the 13th: Part III - 3D, 1982, dir. Miner
- 'Staying Alive', 1983, dir. Stallone
- More to come...
In Cinemas Now:
- Movies, which are currently screening near me, that I would like to see
- 'Away From Her', 2007, dir. Polley
- 'Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus', 2006, dir. Shainberg
- 'Once', 2007, dir. Carney
- 'Superbad', 2007, dir. Mottola
- 'This Is England', 2007, dir. Meadows
- 'Red Road', 2006, dir. Arnold
Disclaimer & Buttons
Everything that is written on this webpage - Stale Popcorn and any tangents from it - is written by me, Glenn Dunks, unless otherwise stated. It is appreciated that if you wish to reproduce any of that you do so with an appropriate link (please do not copy it all because that gives your reader no reason to come by here and possibly increase my traffic).
If any pictures or music files are posted on Stale Popcorn that are owned by you and wish to be credited for or have removed please feel free to send me an email using one of the addresses at the top of the page. I will gladly oblige.
If any pictures or music files are posted on Stale Popcorn that are owned by you and wish to be credited for or have removed please feel free to send me an email using one of the addresses at the top of the page. I will gladly oblige.
6 comments:
Do you know what time today the LA critics announce?
I hate to be that desperate as to sit waiting all day for the announcement when I have so many things I should be doing, but... well... you know. I am.
OK, whatever, I'm going out now.
Adam... the LA results (and my discussion) is up - obviously.
Damien. Truth? I've only seen 2 of 1993s Best Actress nominees. As much as I really liked Stockard Channing in Six Degrees, Holly still gets it from me. BUT, I've wanted to see What's Love Got To Do With It for ages (it's not out on DVD here yet), but I hear Angela Bassett was neck-and-neck. I'd really like to see it for myself though.
oh, wait! I've seen three. I've also seen Emma Thompson in Remains of the Day. She was really good in that movie.
My Top 5 for 1993 (as of the moment - remember I was 8years-old in 1993) are:
Juliette Binoche, Three Colours: Blue
Stockard Channing, Six Degrees of Seperation
Diane Keaton, Manhattan Murder Mystery
Meg Ryan, Sleepless in Seattle
Emma Thompson, Remains of the Day
Is it wrong that Sleepless in Seattle is one of my favourite movies?
No, I like Sleepless in Seattle too. As that genre goes, it's choice.
Are you saying, though, that all five of these women were better than Hunter in the Piano? Cause that's insane... not to mention Angela Bassett as Tina Turner.
Er, slip up. Hunter is obviously #1. Consider it an unfair advantage on Hunter's part so I chose the next five.
oops. My mind was slipping.
ugh. It's so disappointing that Halle is the first african american to win Best Actress. Why couldn't it be Angela? Or Alfre Woodard? Or someone else.
It'll be weird if Jennifer Hudson get's nominated for Best Actress and wins. Cause, seriously. Halle Berry and an American Idol reject. Strange company.
Post a Comment