a blast from the past - The Apartment

Synopsis:

The Apartment is the bachelor pad of an overworked insurance accountant, who in an attempt to make some extra dough, rents out his apartment to his philandering co-workers and their mistresses. As a result, this puts the accountant on the fast-track for promotions. But the film takes a twist when the accountant finds out the identity of one of the mistresses who has been entertained at his pad.

Written, directed and produced by Billy Wilder. Released 1960, in black & white. Stars Jack Lemmon as the accountant, Bud, and Shirley MacLaine as elevator girl Fran.

REVIEW by Cinemagirl:

I love these old movies that feel like a play. They take place in just a couple locations and the dialogue is always so real and the actions so accurate. Jack Lemmon is excellent in this film. He is funny and quirky, yet kind of sad and lonely. Very young Shirley MacLaine is sassy and a refreshing reflection of a "girl next door" instead of some bombshell. The plot may be fairly predictable, but the plot devices used in these old films are always more clever than the typically T&A -laden romantic "comedies" of today.

I would recommend this film for a quiet weekend and a variety of ages. Plus, you can't beat Jack Lemmon straining pasta through a tennis racket.

STORY: 8
LOOK: 7
ACTING: 9

OVERALL: 8


REVIEW by LEWIS

It's really great, now and then, to enjoy a "classic" Hollywood type move. The early 60's aren't exactly known to be one of the great times in American Cinema. It was very much a transitional period. The studios seemed to have a hard time trying to decide whether to make main stream movies grittier or keep them wholesome. Well, "The Apartment" seems to do a little of both.

I mean, come on! Think about! If you knew some young guy renting out his space by the hour in the evenings so married men could get there jollies, would you turn him in? This isn't exactly the "ideal" neighbor.

Of course, somehow Billy Wilder makes it all cute and funny. The story is classic, really to the point of predictability, but that really won't bother any viewer. The writing back then can be so much more clever, with it's nice little plot points. "Set em up and Knock em down"

If you like older movies this one really rates. Jack Lemmon is wonderful and his and CINEMAGIRL hit the nail on the head about Shirley MacLaine. A great sit at home "date" flick.

STORY: 8 of 10
LOOK: 7 of 10
ACTING: 9 of 10

OVERALL: 8 of 10

The Future of Food

A documentary focusing on biotechnology's impact on farming and public health. The film takes a frightening look at the fragile state of our food supply, corporate control over its future, government inaction and steps citizens can take to eat safely and healthfully.

Released 2005. Directed, written and produced by Deborah Koons Garcia - Jerry's widow.

REVIEW by Cinemagirl

This film was powerful. Several times I wanted to punch, kick, scream and curse. The film contains interviews with several farmers who were sued by Monsanto Corp., the world's leading producer of genetically modified plants - many of which are being grown in North America without public knowledge or extensive scientific research.

Such is the nature of plants, that when they mature they release seeds, which become airborne, land in a field, germinate and begin to grow there. This corporation's Frakenseeds, which are genetically altered and patented, have entered farmer's fields by accident and the farmers have been sued by Monsanto for copyright infringement. Watch the film to see what has become of some of these unfortunate souls.

The film also discusses how the "farm bill" subsidizes crops and disrupts the market in foreign countries. It does not benefit farmers, but companies.

The film contains news clips, showing people who have been sickened by GMOs, residents who attempted to have these Frankenfoods labeled and scientists who believe that the path corporate America is leading us down when it comes to food is unsustainable and dangerous. It also touts the benefits of purchasing organically grown, locally raised food, which is good for you and local farmers.

I think this film should be shown on PBS and in schools. Its message is too important to ignore.

STORY: 10
LOOK: 8 (due to some cheesy stock footage)
OVERALL: 9

You're Gonna Miss Me

This documentary tells the life story of Roky Erickson; from his career as the lead singer of the psychedelic group 13th Floor Elevators to his spiral into drug abuse, schizophrenia and family problems.

Directed by Kevin McAlester. Released 2005.
Running Time 94 min. Unrated.

REVIEW by LEWIS

Watching documentaries can be a risky business. Sometimes you're pounded over the head with a political/social issue until you either feel guilty enough to join the cause, or so sick of hearing about it so that you become the cause's antithesis. Once in a while though, a documentary comes along that is just a nice, well rounded story that keeps you interested and entertained. "You're Gonna Miss Me" is just that sort of documentary.

This story has everything: sex, drugs, rock n' roll, crazy mother's, rags to riches, and more. The focus of the story deals with Roky Erickson's rise and, as the film described, invention of Psychedelic Rock in the 60's with the band "13th Floor Elevators". Many music heads know of 13th Floor. They did very well in San Fran in the late 60's, and even made an appearence on Dick Clark's American Band Stand. But, like many bands of the era, they decended into a downward spiral of drugs and partying.

When we catch up with Roky today he is a helpless Schizophrenic being cared for his questionably sane mother. Is Roky crazy from drugs, mom, a stint in one of America's wost mental institutions, or is it just the way he is?

This film did a wonderful job at NOT being a VH1 rockumentary, but instead a delicately told story of the life and problems of Roky Erickson. You feel for the family and friends and for Roky. Why can't he just be normal? Why can't he be a musician again? The film also did a wonderful job at gaining archival footage and photos so we can see the change in Roky over the past four decades.

Overall I highly recommend this documentary to anyone, especially lovers of 60's rock or just rock n' roll in general. I also think people with an interest in psychology would find this film fascinating.

LOOK - 8.5 of 10
STORY - 9 of 10
OVERALL - 8.75 of 10


Review by Cinemagirl

I like how this film really looks at the past, present and future of Roky's life. When dealing with his childhood, there are interviews with his mom and four brothers, all of whom are musically talented in some way and have even made their own careers in music. The childhood stories are brought to life with many family photographs, super 8mm film, and later on, Mom's weird home videos.

To flesh out the story of his adult past there are interviews with bandmates, members of ZZ Top, Patti Smith and an MTV host who all discuss the impact the 13th Floor Elevators made on the psychedelic scene in San Fran and elsewhere. There is plenty of footage from past concerts and tv interviews, which really illustrate the state of Roky's mind at the time and the height of musical importance the band has reached. Other past interviews include stories from three of Roky's exes and mental health workers who treated him.

In present time, we see an overweight and despondent Roky, unmedicated, living in a filthy condo in Austin, Texas, and spending his days with his bizarre mother. I will not reveal what occurs as the film moves toward the present, but there is a surprising turn in Roky's life.

Overall, even in Roky's times of deep mental illness and depression in the past and present, there is home video footage and film from the documentarians that shows Roky at his best - playing music. Incredibly, for a person with so many problems and real mental suffering, he can still pick up a guitar and sing, clear as a bell and in-tune, like he never quit. That, for me, points to his innate talent.

I highly recommend renting this film.

STORY: 9
LOOK: 8.5

OVERALL: 8.75

Marie Antoinette

SYNOPSIS:

Marie Antoinette tells the story of the Austrian girl who became a young French queen. It details her decadent lifestyle among a court of catty gossips in the days leading up to the Revolution.

Directed by Sofia Coppola (Francis' daughter)
123 mins. - Rated: PG-13
Starring Kirsten Dunst as the original party-girl Marie Antoinette and Jason Schwartzman as her reserved husband, Louis XVI.

REVIEW by Cinemagirl:

I heard the French actually booed this film at Cannes and some even got up and left the theatre. But can you imagine if someone had made a film about, say, Martha Washington, that showed her as a partying trollop, like some 18th century Paris Hilton?

I rather liked the film and its take on history. There were several dreamy sequences that were shot handheld, with shots cutting to another vantage point of the same shot multiple times, that felt like 60s avant garde films. The sequence with Marie Antoinette getting cozy in her country cottage was really nice and sunny, like a Super 8mm home film, with the sounds of the swaying fields and bumblebees in the garden layered heavy in the foreground.

Other nice sequences included a scene with Marie and two of her ladies trying on these crazy tarty shoes and stuffing themselves with decadent sweets. The scene was edited entirely to modern music, as is much of the film, which made the characters seem all the more similar to the bimbo socialite crowd today that is on the cover of high-profile magazines sporting the latest styles and miniature dogs.

I recommend renting this flick. It was a nice follow-up to Sofia Coppola's last story. It doesn't seem at all similar to "Lost in Translation," but it was alike in that it closely follows the daily life and emotions of another young woman. I hope Ms. Coppola continues in this vein.

STORY: 7 out of 10
LOOK: 8.5 out of 10
ACTING: 8 out of 10

OVERALL: 8 of 10

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REVIEW by LEWIS

I'll be honest, when I see frilly phoo phoo period costumes I usually assume that I'm going to get some kind of BBC made for TV "let's celebrate Europe's history!" kind of movie. But, when I heard that Ms. Coppola was making Marie Antoinette I thought, "Hmmm, this should be pretty interesting."

I saw the teaser on the Quicktime website about a year ago, which featured New Order's song "Age of Consent", and I was stylistically hooked. "Could this really be a new take on a period film?" Well, it is...and it isn't.

As my comrade mentioned above, there are some WONDERFUL moments in the film that capture the emotion through interesting camera movement and shots (new wave all the way). I wish there was more of that in the whole film. It would go back to that grand dolly shot, or stagnant portraiture mise en scene. Not that there's anything wrong with that, it is really beautiful. But the thought of an entire film about one of the most famous Queens of all time being shot cinema verite seemed REALLY EXCITING. So I was a little let down.

However, I was happy with the angle of the story. It really was through the eyes of a naive, silver-spooned rich girl that lived in the bubble of Versailles. You almost felt sorry for her, really. I'm sure Sofia Coppola could relate to that young rich kid lifestyle, through herself and her friends. Honestly, the same story could relate to George Bush in his Yale days, a young DuPont, or a little Rockefeller. The blue-bloods live in their own world, and that is where the film was placed.

Acting was great. I think Sofia Coppola is becoming a great director of actors. In each of her films she seems to give them a lot of latitude to discover their characters and it really shows through the lens.

Overall this is a great way to experience a period piece film. It's different from most, all though I personally wish it pushed the envelope a little more.

STORY: 7 out of 10
LOOK: 7 out of 10 (should have gone further)
ACTING: 8 out of 10

OVERALL: 7.5 of 10

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

An American Western set in the cold rolling hills of the 19th century Midwest, chronicling the last days of the Jesse James gang. The story focuses on Robert Ford, who is awestruck and obsessed with the train-robbing bandit. Their paths cross and the two develop a relationship eerily similar to today's celebrities and their entourage, or a domestic abusive situation.

Directed by Andrew Dominik, 2007. Rated R, 160 mins
Starring Brad Pitt as Jesse and Casey Affleck as Robert Ford.
(special appearances by Sam Shepard, James Carville and Nick Cave)

REVIEW by Cinemagirl:

This is definitely not a typical western. The creepy obsessive relationship between Robert Ford and Jesse James could take place today as a tale of a fan loyally following his idol and then feeling spurned when the feelings are not returned.

The cinematography (by the great Roger Deakins of Coen Bros. films) was very clever. Shots would be entirely blurry, except in the center where some interesting action or shot of a character would take place. The film contains beautiful, dreamy shots of grassy plains, hillsides in winter and blue skies.

Pitt was a believable Jesse James, very cocky. And Affleck did a good job of playing the annoying, fumbling sidekick.

STORY: 8.5 out of 10
LOOK: 8 out of 10
ACTING: 7 for Pitt, 8 for Affleck (average 7.5)

AVERAGE TOTAL: 8 of 10

I'm not too sad that I missed it in the theatre, but it should definitely be rented.

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REVIEW by Lewis

I found "Jesse James" to be a little more of a realistic Western story. I'm not sure how accurate some of the history was, but it all seemed believable to me. I have to confess that I have been waiting a very long time to see this movie, because Robert Ford is a distant cousin of mine, so I've been curious to compare the family "hand-me-down" stories to the film's story. It's always exciting to have a celebrity in the family tree. I'm not sure if I should be proud of that or not, which is a feeling you'll get from this drama. Who defines cowardice? Who defines hero? This is the part of the film I found very interesting.

I did love Casey's portral as a young, star-struck fan of Jesse James. It reminded of those sad young teens trying to emulate Paris Hilton. Just as Paris is not a person anyone should aspire to be, Jesse James isn't really either. He's cocky, manic, unpredictable, not to mention a killer and a thief. Sam Rockwell (Charlie Ford) shouldn't be overlooked either. He did a great job in sitting in the awkward place between Jesse (his boss) and Robert (his brother).

The pace of the movie was a bit slow, maybe more then it needed to be. It did help out with the tension between characters when needed, though. The editor (Dylan Tichenor: Royal Tenenbaums, Magnolia, Brokeback Mountain...one of my favorites) probably made a good choice in the pace, but some might find it tedious. The cinematography was amazing. Deakins is a master at his craft and I don't know if he can do any wrong.

Overall it is worth the rent, and you will need a pee break in there somewhere, but I do recommend it.

STORY: 7 out of 10
LOOK: 9 out of 10
ACTING: 8 out of 10

AVERAGE TOTAL: 8 out of 10

Time to Review Some Films

Welcome to "Film Projections". This blog, as described, is going to be reviews of movies seen. Not just new movies, but any movie seen by myself or my fellow blogger. So, every time netflix shows up at the door and a movie is watched, expect a review.

There should be a nice spread of genres. Indie, foreign, documentary, classics, new wave and big budget. Hopefully, at some point, anyone can look up a film or two they're interested and be given a bit of information before moving it to the top of their queue.

We'll attmept a few different rating systems. I'm leaning to a 1-10 scale in multiple categories...but we'll se how things evolve.

BTW...this will be a SPOILER FREE SITE. We won't be putting them in, and we'll be deleting coments with spoilers.

The second purpose of the blog is to provide links and information about the Lehigh Valley film community. We would like to be a source of information for people interested in producing or promoting local films.

So please enjoy the site, and expect some reviews very soon!