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Reviews151
danielll_rs's rating
DOGVILLE (2003)
**** out of ****
There weren't many great film on the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, but at least three of them deserved to win an award. First, there was Gus Van Sant's ELEPHANT, with its daring and original approach to a real-life event. There was also Clint Eastwood's masterpiece MYSTIC RIVER, which went on to win two Academy Awards in 2004. But it was DOGVILLE the true star of that festival. Unfortunately, it didn't win anything- I suppose that was because its pessimistic, radical view of the human nature might not have pleased some members of the jury. That's a pity, because this is a film to enter the history of cinema.
With its unusual set design (chalk drawings on the floor to represent houses, only a few objects) and its anti-Hollywood structure (a narrator who knows a lot, the division of the story in chapters), it might repel some viewers. But that all makes DOGVILLE unique. While Nicole Kidman's performance is the best of her career, the most discussed thing about the film will be its ending. Well, all I can say is that Lars Von Trier has guts- the finale tells more about ourselves than we'd like to.
No doubt here's a new addition to my all-time top 100. It's the best film since David Lynch's MULHOLLAND DRIVE.
**** out of ****
There weren't many great film on the 2003 Cannes Film Festival, but at least three of them deserved to win an award. First, there was Gus Van Sant's ELEPHANT, with its daring and original approach to a real-life event. There was also Clint Eastwood's masterpiece MYSTIC RIVER, which went on to win two Academy Awards in 2004. But it was DOGVILLE the true star of that festival. Unfortunately, it didn't win anything- I suppose that was because its pessimistic, radical view of the human nature might not have pleased some members of the jury. That's a pity, because this is a film to enter the history of cinema.
With its unusual set design (chalk drawings on the floor to represent houses, only a few objects) and its anti-Hollywood structure (a narrator who knows a lot, the division of the story in chapters), it might repel some viewers. But that all makes DOGVILLE unique. While Nicole Kidman's performance is the best of her career, the most discussed thing about the film will be its ending. Well, all I can say is that Lars Von Trier has guts- the finale tells more about ourselves than we'd like to.
No doubt here's a new addition to my all-time top 100. It's the best film since David Lynch's MULHOLLAND DRIVE.
CALIGOLA (1979)
no stars out of ****
Wow! It doesn't take much time to find a bad mainstream movie. In fact, there are lots of them every year. But it takes time to find something worse than GIGLI, FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY, HOWARD THE DUCK... Well, CALIGOLA tops- or should I say "bottoms"- them all. Why? Everything about this "film" is miscalculated, unpleasant and so completely wrong! A soft-core porn disguised as a biography of the mad Roman emperor Caligola, everything about it, from the acting to the indescribably awful direction, from the inane cinematography to the screenplay that seems to have been written by a horny donkey (sorry, I know Gore Vidal was involved but the writing is awful); everything is as awful as it gets, and it still gets worse.
Release us from things like CALIGOLA! Yuck! A big yuck! .
no stars out of ****
Wow! It doesn't take much time to find a bad mainstream movie. In fact, there are lots of them every year. But it takes time to find something worse than GIGLI, FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY, HOWARD THE DUCK... Well, CALIGOLA tops- or should I say "bottoms"- them all. Why? Everything about this "film" is miscalculated, unpleasant and so completely wrong! A soft-core porn disguised as a biography of the mad Roman emperor Caligola, everything about it, from the acting to the indescribably awful direction, from the inane cinematography to the screenplay that seems to have been written by a horny donkey (sorry, I know Gore Vidal was involved but the writing is awful); everything is as awful as it gets, and it still gets worse.
Release us from things like CALIGOLA! Yuck! A big yuck! .
A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
**** out of ****
Marlon Brando, one of the best movie and theater actors of the 20th century, has died on Thursday, July 1st 2004. With the nickname of Stanley Kowalski, I couldn't let to pay my homage and post my comment on this wonderful film, where he plays Kowalski.
It's not only Brando who shines here- A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE has to be one of the best-acted films I've ever seen. Vivien Leigh is indescribable as the doomed Blanche Dubois, while the late Kim Hunter and the great Karl Malden couldn't be any better. But it's Brando whom we most remember when we talk about STREETCAR, the best movie adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Kowalski, with his ripped shirt, screaming for Stella, is one of the greatest moments of the 20th century. And it tells us a lot about Brando himself and his method of acting. May he rest in peace!
**** out of ****
Marlon Brando, one of the best movie and theater actors of the 20th century, has died on Thursday, July 1st 2004. With the nickname of Stanley Kowalski, I couldn't let to pay my homage and post my comment on this wonderful film, where he plays Kowalski.
It's not only Brando who shines here- A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE has to be one of the best-acted films I've ever seen. Vivien Leigh is indescribable as the doomed Blanche Dubois, while the late Kim Hunter and the great Karl Malden couldn't be any better. But it's Brando whom we most remember when we talk about STREETCAR, the best movie adaptation of a Tennessee Williams play. Kowalski, with his ripped shirt, screaming for Stella, is one of the greatest moments of the 20th century. And it tells us a lot about Brando himself and his method of acting. May he rest in peace!