Italian for Beginners (1995)

Danish Dogma film 'Italian for Beginners' is yet another Danish film I really enjoyed. To be honest, I have yet to see a bad Danish film (Babette's Feast, After the Wedding, Brothers etc. Were honestly some of the best films I have ever seen).
Therefore, I wonder if they do in fact exist? If they do - I'm yet to find one.
However, despite my ardent appreciation of Denmark's film industry I am unfamiliar with many of the Dogma films. Thus, I was excited to check some more out.

Italian for beginners is a low budget film and you can tell. However, it works with the picture. The characters appear realistic with quirks and all. I find this to be central to most of the Danish films though - great characters.
The film has romance and comedy however, is not your typical American "RomCom".
I found this film to be endearing and would watch it again.

Bonnie & Clyde (1967)

Stylish, cool and charismatic duo Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow played by Warren Beatty and Faye Dunnaway are exciting to watch in this iconic 60's film based on the real life characters of the same name.

The leading actors are beautiful and the mix of sexual chemistry, violence and comedy mix very well. I adored the costumes and the stylisation which lend a slight 'Western' like aspect to this film despite the fact that its not set in that time or that part of America. The extreme closeups of Bonnie remind me a little of french women in new wave films.

I liked this film and can understand why it was so influential and such a step away from the more suggary film of that time.


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Three Kings (1999)

I'm not a big fan of George Clooney as I find he overacts. Thus, I found this movie a bit tedius to watch. That's not to say I didnt recognise this as a good film for some - because it is (for some). However, I cannot say that I loved it.

The film has an energy too it and even though I hate to relate this film to a gender, but I definetly think this is "one for the boys".

I feel somewhat like I have seen this type of film before, however, the films may have borrowed from this film.

Ultimatly my favourite part of this film was the soundtrack.

After the Wedding (2006)

I loved this film.

The storyline was unpredictable but real. The characters were multi dimensional; flawed and yet likable. The performances in this film were nothing short of touching, with the standout performance being Rolf Lassgard (Jorgen) who recites some of the most touching lines in the film. Lines that were delivered with so much emotion, you cannot help but weep for him.

The complexity and depth of characters and the intriguing storyline made for a powerful film.
Of which I found to be so captivating I watched it twice in one day.

Delicatessen clip

Only the French would come up with this.

Bizarre hilarity.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJp9ecTjBGQ

Persona (1966)

This is the second Ingmar Bergman film I have seen. The first was "Fanny och Alexander" (A very different film to Persona but still distinct).

The opening to 'Persona' was cringe worthy and intoxicating at the same time. Your left thinking "Did I just see that?" and with the power of rewind/pause. It is confirmed that "yes, yes you did".

The film plot in itself is complex, dealing with existential questions and ideas.
The angles in this film and the extreme closeups help focus the viewer on the character. We watch the character react by studying the constructs of their face.

I liked this film but you really do need to be in the mood for it as their is nothing light and airy about it.
This movie reaffirmed my view that Scandinavia produces some amazingly groundbreaking films.

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Dear John (2010)

Predictable, dull and boring. Another tearjerker attempt for the fans of Nicolas Spark adaptions.
Would make a good Saturday afternoon film to watch with friends on tv. But only on network television.

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Place des Fetes (2006)

Place des Fetes was one of the short films that made up the movie Paris je t'aime. This films contains a series of short films made by famous directors such as the Coen brothers.

Place des Fetes, a five minute short, was the highlight of the film.The idea of the story is that of chance, fate and mortality.
An African immigrant being attended to by a paramedic. The paramedic, a beautiful African Parisian who through flashbacks, is someone he fell in love with while working as a service attendant. This chance meeting is shown to be the start of what brought him to the current day.

Incredibly moving story for such a short piece with very little dialogue.

À bout de souffle (1960)

Chic and cool! French New Wave at its best. You really feel like you are watching a magical time in cinema history with this one.

It took me a little bit of time to get the jump cuts and the dedication to long dialogue scenes. But when I stopped expecting this film to run to a specific formula I started to enjoy it. Although, I think I liked the stylisation more than anything which felt rather hip and fashionable.

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Crazy Heart

This film could have easily been cliche (with the old country singer storyline) however I found it to be an enjoyable film with great acting.

The only thing I found a little strange was how fast the relationship between the main character (Bad) and the character Jane developed. But other than that the film was pretty straight forward.

I saw similarities in character development to 'The Wrestler' (The absent parent storyline). Yet it was a very different film (not as good as The Wrestler) Yet, it still stood up as one of the best new release films.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko is a very original film you can watch as many times as you like and never really get it.
Is it about time travel, reality, illusion? It's not exactly clear. But its very enjoyable and the lack of definite definition allow for multiple viewings.

The Back-Up Plan (2010)

Despite effects to be a little more edgy (A single soon to be mum via IVF, is the female lead) this film is still rather formulaic.
The movie was bearable mostly due to Lopez.
Mostly you will sit their thinking " Why is Jennifer Lopez still doing this type of film?"

Double Indemnity (1944)

"I wonder if I know what you mean."
"I wonder if you wonder." - Double Indemnity


My first foray into the "Film Noir" genre and I was pleasantly surprised.
A sexy yet dark study on human behaviour through the use of interesting characters with great lines! The dialogue was fast paced (definitely a product of the time) - I just adored it.

I liked the dark lighting and the shadowing of this film and can understand why it is so influential.

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Valentine's Day (2010)

The combination of Gary Marshall and Julia Roberts did not help this awful film. Which is up there as one of the worst films I have ever seen.
Why? Think of it as just another "RomCom" that was not funny the first time.

Almost as bad as Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, almost.

The Wrestler (2009)

I was hesitant to watch this film as the film poster looked less than appealing.
But I was glad I did as The Wrestler was one of the best films I have ever seen.

I was very much struck by the father daughter dynamic as it came across as very realistic.

An extremely well done film.

Avatar

I had a strange feeling I had seen Avatar before. Judging by the fact that I have seen the following films; Dancing with Wolves, The Last Samurai and Cirque De soleil at IMAX, I will deduce that I have.
While the narrative did seem like a collage of previous films. The real point of difference (and I'm sure the catalyst for its world wide phenomenon) was the advanced use of 3D technology and CGI.

I cannot say that I am a fan of film however, had I have watched it in 3D, I may have been.

Bicylce Thief (1948)

Beautiful tragic film.

I thought the acting was brilliant by the non-actors in this film (makes one wonder if all films should use non-actors).

It felt very real and honest giving the viewer an amazing perspective of Italy in that time through the story of an ordinary man.

Citizen Kane (1941)

Classic film. I was supprised by how good this film was. I thought I would have found it a little boring however, the opening scene with snowglobe smashing to the floor with the famous "Rosebud" hooked me right from the start.

"I always gagged on the silver spoon" - Citizen Kane

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Chop Shop (2007)

Gritty and engaging, 'Chop Shop' is definitly one of the best American films I have seen in a very long time.

The film portrays an element of New York many people are likely unfamiliar with (as was I). The poverty, the violence, the racial divisions and how that feels for a child growing up in that world.

The film felt authentic and the characters were not overdone. A real nod to neo-realism.

Battleship Potemkin (1925)

Wow! I have never seen a movie like this. The stampede on the steps to the mutiny on the ship was so expressive even without dialogue.


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Grand Illusion

Iconic film by Jean Renoir set in World War 1. Dealing with issues of class and nationalism, by demonstrating the irony of it through the friendship of the leader of the French regiment having more in common with his German counterpart than with his own soldier.
The film is sublte and the characters are excellent. While the overall look of this feel cannot be described as anything other than beautiful.

The Lovely Bones

Interesting, disturbing and visualy stunning at the same time.
A very moving piece on a dificult and depressing story.

This is England

Sensational low budget film dealing with skinheads, identity and coming of age.

I think ugliness was the winning aesthetic of this film. Which is of course a strange thing to enjoy, but I found the ugliness really complimented and enhanced the story. Ugliness in terms of setting, costumes, hair, context, etc. It felt more authentic with this aesthetic.

Think Billy Elliot meets Romper Stomper

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Happy Tears

Blah!

I found this film was trying to hard to be funny.

Metropolis (1927)

This is one of the best films I have ever seen. The movement, the graphics and the story were engaging. It reminded me of Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' and I can see how much Tim Burton has borrowed from this film as he has with the Weine's 'The Cabinet of Dr Caligari'

I cannot believe I had never seen this film before and I am planning to get a copy of this on DVD.


Amazing film!

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The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari

Very dark on the screen however, I'm glad I persevered because this was such a remarkable film and I would have missed the twist at the end.

I was rather surprised by the surreal and Gothic like elements of this film. I don't know why but seeing such an aesthetic challenged my understanding of what film was like back then. The ideas seemed explicit in a way I ignorantly didn't understand film was capable portraying in that period.

Definitely made me a fan of German Expressionism.

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Osama

Deeply moving film. I felt so powerless after watching this film. I honeslty believe more films need to come out of this region as they must have so many more poignant tales to tell.

L'enfant

Realist Belgium film. Depressing yet must see!

A young teenage couple have a baby and the Boy sells that baby for money.

Interesting story.

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Remember Me (2010)

This film was not too bad, however, I would not watch it again as it's not the type of film I really enjoy watching. But other than that I think this film was fine and I didnt think it was badly made.

Birth of a Nation

This may be a groundbreaking film in terms of cinema technique. However, I did not like this. I find it very upsetting to see this type of rascism on the screen. Especialy without the use of resolution such as that seen in American History X.

Lumiere, Trip to the Moon and Great Train Robbery

Rather poignant seeing the first ever films. They are obviously lacking in the technology we enjoy today, yet still worth watching if only to see the ingenuity of these early cinema pioneers.

Great Train Robbery (1903)

The first Western

Lumiere (1895)

Simple film obviously reflective of what people had initialy wanted to see -anything!

Trip to the Moon (1902)

Amazing to think how old it is and how exciting this would havve been for audiences viewing it for the first time.

Bright Star

I tried so hard to like this but I found it to be a series of shots of a girl brooding, a man coughing and few pretty frocks.

All in all I think the film lacked stimulus. Something extra to make this story more enjoyable. But it was just boring.

Delicatessen

Its vegetarianism vs cannibalism in this offbeat film.

I would describe this as a morbid comedy similar to Denmark's Green Butchers. A butcher hires handymen and when they fatten up he then chops them up so that they can eat meat in a world were meat is scarce.

However, I thought this was a clever film and although the subject was weird I appreciated the absurdity of this film that has slight nods to German Expressionist films.

Another point I noticed was the striking similarity between this and other Jeunet films. He certainly has a unique and offbeat style that is visually beautiful.
The lighting and colours are very consistent and beautiful.