Blind Chance

I have yet to see a Kieslowski film I didn’t like.  I had my doubts about this one, but it was really unique (well, except for the fact that Sliding Doors totally ripped it off) and interesting.  The politics were confusing at first, but I think I got the gist of it by the end.  Rating: 8

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La Belle et la Bete (rewatch)

I’m getting a bit tired of movies; I’ve been overdoing it lately, I think.  I’m losing my ability to really get absorbed in a film.  So maybe now isn’t the best time to judge, but Belle et la Bete no longer feels like a favorite to me.  I do adore it, but it would be rare for me to be in the mood to watch it again. No, actually, I’m changing my mind as I type this.  I would totally watch this again.  It’s fun, it’s beautiful, it’s well-paced.  See how fickle I am?  I have no idea what I like.  Rating: 9 or 10, can’t decide

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Rushmore (rewatch)

I adore Wes Anderson’s cinematic sensibilities: the aura of melancholy, the careful framing, the color palettes, the choice of music, and so forth.  The last 30 seconds of Rushmore before the credits roll are heart-achingly perfect.  On the other hand, the character of Max Fischer is such a despicable little shit that it’s very hard to root for him.  But maybe that’s the beauty of the film; by the end, I’m rooting for him despite myself.  It’s a pleasure to see that he’s gained some maturity, genuine maturity and not just a mannered maturity.  You hope that he turns out okay.  Rating: 8

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The Double Life of Veronique

Original, mysterious, rich and haunting.  I still don’t think Irene Jacob is that great an actress, though I like her in this a little more than her performance in Red.  I hope this comes out on DVD soon.  The print I downloaded was fuzzy and dark.  Rating: 9

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The Battle of Algiers

Produced in a very convincing realistic style, quite compelling.  Superb score by Morricone.  Rating: 8

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From Russia With Love (rewatch)

I enjoy 007, but I’m not a fanatic.  I’m not even sure I prefer FRWL over, say, Goldfinger.  It was entertaining to watch again, but it lacks the usual grand set pieces and there isn’t an interesting villain until the very end.  Rating: 8

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I Stand Alone (rewatch)

Maybe not the best film to watch right before bedtime.  So harsh, so intense, so disturbing, it could definitely give you nightmares.  I don’t even mind the artsy/pretentious parts so much anymore.  Rating: 9

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If…

I liked it, but I felt it got a little needlessly oblique at times.  The changes between black-and-white and color seemed utterly random, as did some of the other quirky bits.  There were some brilliant parts, and McDowell was fantastic (really the whole cast was quite good), and I’ll give the film credit for never being dull.  But the ending is pretty stupid, and the shocking revolutionary nature of the message is merely quaint today.  I’d watch it again, though.  Rating: 7

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The Man with the Movie Camera (rewatch)

I still think this is a totally amazing film, but I have to admit there were a few points where I was checking my watch.   Rating: 9

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Wild Strawberries (rewatch)

It’s been some time since I’ve seen Wild Strawberries.  My first and only other time was over 2 years ago.  Since then I’ve seen a lot more Bergman and gained a true appreciation for him, and now I have a deeper admiration for this film.  It’s a beautiful and multi-faceted piece of work.  I have a thing against dream sequences (I much prefer the dreamlike) but here they work splendidly, revealing the state of Isak’s subconscious without being too oblique and only occasionally being too obvious.  The adolescent “flashback” makes a lot more sense to me now, I think the first time I saw it I took it too literally.  Rating: 9

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