Close-Up is a feature that spotlights films now playing on Mubi. Jean-Claude Brisseau's Céline (1992) is showing July 20 - August 18, 2019 in the United States.Early in his career, once his ambitious, feature-length debut made on Super 8 had been discovered by Éric Rohmer and Maurice Pialat, Jean-Claude Brisseau (1944-2019) attracted the tag of being a social realist, a “poet of suburbia.” From Life the Way It Is (1978) to Sound and Fury (1988), the jagged, often violent plots reflected his life experience as a committed teacher to troubled, working-class kids. But other, less-heralded aspects of these films, as well as of A Brutal Game (1983) and White Wedding (1989), were already pointing in a different, more holistic direction: dreams and visions, intimating the presence of some broadly defined “other world.” Brisseau declared in 2002: “My films are all about the problem of our relation to reality—whatever that reality may be. I’ve always...
- 7/29/2019
- MUBI
Mubi is showing Jacques Tati's Jour de fête (1949) and PlayTime (1967) in December 2018 and January 2019 in many countries around the world as part of the series A Holiday with M. Tati.The characters played by director Jacques Tati, in Jour de fête (1949), Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday (1953), Mon oncle (1958), PlayTime (1967), Trafic (1971), and Parade (1974), are rarely the singular focus of their respective film. Sure, his endearing M. Hulot appears in four of these features, and his François, from Jour de fête, is the most prominent resident of that film’s snug provincial hamlet. But Tati’s on-screen persona, whatever his name (he has none in Parade), is often more of an escort, an inimitable figure whose primary function is to introduce surrounding characters by way of his direct and indirect interaction, and to establish the capacity of each film’s essential setting, which is usually enlivened by his mere existence if not his actual relevance.
- 12/18/2018
- MUBI
Editor’s note: This article is presented in partnership with the Holland Marketing Alliance and their award-winning “Holland. The Original Cool” travel series. You can watch their new short film, “The Tale of Kat & Dog: A Holland Cool Movie,” below.
Try as some filmmakers might, it’s impossible for a single movie to represent an entire country. With all the different perspectives and geographical locations that a nation has to offer, it’s difficult to pinpoint all of those diverse experiences in a neat package.
Luckily, the Netherlands has decades of history and cinematic depictions to dive into, from Dutch filmmakers and those telling their stories far from home. The short film that got us thinking about this? “The Tale of Kat & Dog: A Holland Cool Movie,” a 17-minute tour across Amsterdam with an adorable canine as a guide:
Now that you’ve seen a bit of the country through...
Try as some filmmakers might, it’s impossible for a single movie to represent an entire country. With all the different perspectives and geographical locations that a nation has to offer, it’s difficult to pinpoint all of those diverse experiences in a neat package.
Luckily, the Netherlands has decades of history and cinematic depictions to dive into, from Dutch filmmakers and those telling their stories far from home. The short film that got us thinking about this? “The Tale of Kat & Dog: A Holland Cool Movie,” a 17-minute tour across Amsterdam with an adorable canine as a guide:
Now that you’ve seen a bit of the country through...
- 11/2/2016
- by Indiewire Staff
- Indiewire
With a seemingly endless amount of streaming options — not only the titles at our disposal, but services themselves — we’ve taken it upon ourselves to highlight the titles that have recently hit the interwebs. Every week, one will be able to see the cream of the crop (or perhaps some simply interesting picks) of streaming titles (new and old) across platforms such as Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and more (note: U.S. only). Check out our rundown for this week’s selections below.
Interstellar (Christopher Nolan)
Sure, the film has some flaws. I think Nolan‘s visual style suffers with the absence of his usual collaborator, Wally Pfister, though Hoyte van Hoytema still shoots a beautiful film. All the same, Interstellar swings for the fences, and while it might throw out its shoulder and stumble on a twisted ankle in the homestretch, I’ll be damned if the ball...
Interstellar (Christopher Nolan)
Sure, the film has some flaws. I think Nolan‘s visual style suffers with the absence of his usual collaborator, Wally Pfister, though Hoyte van Hoytema still shoots a beautiful film. All the same, Interstellar swings for the fences, and while it might throw out its shoulder and stumble on a twisted ankle in the homestretch, I’ll be damned if the ball...
- 12/18/2015
- by TFS Staff
- The Film Stage
Special mention: Häxan
Directed by Benjamin Christensen
Denmark / Sweden, 1922
Genre: Documentary
Häxan (a.k.a The Witches or Witchcraft Through The Ages) is a 1922 silent documentary about the history of witchcraft, told in a variety of styles, from illustrated slideshows to dramatized reenactments of alleged real-life events. Written and directed by Benjamin Christensen, and based partly on Christensen’s study of the Malleus Maleficarum, Häxan is a fine examination of how superstition and the misunderstanding of mental illness could lead to the hysteria of the witch-hunts. At the time, it was the most expensive Scandinavian film ever made, costing nearly 2 million Swedish krona. Although it won acclaim in Denmark and Sweden, the film was banned in the United States and heavily censored in other countries for what were considered, at that time, graphic depictions of torture, nudity, and sexual perversion. Depending on which version you’re watching, the commentary is...
Directed by Benjamin Christensen
Denmark / Sweden, 1922
Genre: Documentary
Häxan (a.k.a The Witches or Witchcraft Through The Ages) is a 1922 silent documentary about the history of witchcraft, told in a variety of styles, from illustrated slideshows to dramatized reenactments of alleged real-life events. Written and directed by Benjamin Christensen, and based partly on Christensen’s study of the Malleus Maleficarum, Häxan is a fine examination of how superstition and the misunderstanding of mental illness could lead to the hysteria of the witch-hunts. At the time, it was the most expensive Scandinavian film ever made, costing nearly 2 million Swedish krona. Although it won acclaim in Denmark and Sweden, the film was banned in the United States and heavily censored in other countries for what were considered, at that time, graphic depictions of torture, nudity, and sexual perversion. Depending on which version you’re watching, the commentary is...
- 10/27/2015
- by Ricky Fernandes
- SoundOnSight
1961 Spanish poster for Funny Face (Stanley Donen, USA, 1957). Artists: “McP” (Ramon Marti, Joseph Clave, Hernan Pico).Of all the posters I’ve selected for Movie Poster of the Day over the past three months, I would not have expected this Spanish Funny Face to be the most reblogged and “liked” of all, but I am pleasantly surprised that it is. A gorgeous poster, credited to a triumvirate of artists, that repaints photographic images from the Us half-sheet in unexpected shades of purple and orange, it somehow caught Tumblr’s attention. Or maybe it was just those eyes.It tends to be true that the posters that catch fire the most are unusual and striking designs for well known films, like the Japanese Beetlejuice, the Polish Ran, the British Breathless, and the French On the Waterfront. Which makes it all the more heartening that the fourth most popular poster was a...
- 10/23/2015
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
I came across a wonderful new poster the other day by Portuguese illustrator André Letria for Jacques Tati’s 1971 comedy Trafic, which reminded me of how Tati, above all filmmakers (with the possible exceptions of Stanley Kubrick and Wes Anderson) continually lends himself to different graphic renditions. Many of them can be seen regularly on the excellent and prolific blog The Hulot Universe, which seems to be tapped into an inexhaustible supply of Tatiana. I’ve written about Tati art twice before: in a post about Pierre Etaix, and last year I wrote about David Merveille’s impeccable designs for the Criterion Collection’s Jacques Tati Blu-ray set. But I’ve always wanted to feature the various international posters for Traffic and Letria’s new art, which you can see at the end of the post, gives me that excuse.The famous French poster, above, curiously unsigned for such a striking,...
- 10/16/2015
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
With only six feature films to his name, four of which featured his iconic onscreen alter ego, the cinema of Jacques Tati remains an island of unique delight despite his influence on decades of filmmakers since and comparative efforts of peers from his own period (considering Marguerite Duras’ critique, now widely accepted, concerning the taken-for-granted stylistic likeness between Tati and Robert Bresson, a director whose subject matters were a bit less pleasant or comical). Without Tati and his bumbling character Monsieur Hulot, sputtering about memorably in a series of some of the most well-crafted moments of ingenious, highly organized chaos ever put to celluloid, we’d be without latter day influences, like Roy Andersson, Otar Iosseliani, several Peter Sellers characters, and even Rowan Atkinson’s similarly crafted Mr. Bean.
At the time, Tati’s obvious influences date back to the silent era, where Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin crafted the...
At the time, Tati’s obvious influences date back to the silent era, where Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin crafted the...
- 11/11/2014
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
It's that time of year again and it's time to update the list for the second half of 2014 as Barnes & Noble has just kicked off their 50% off Criterion sale and as impossible a task as it is to cut things down to just a few titles, I have done my best to break Criterion's titles down into a few categories. Hopefully those looking for box sets, specific directors or what I think are absolute musts will find this makes things a little bit easier. Let's get to it... First Picks I was given the Zatoichi collection for Christmas last year and being a collection that holds 25 films and another disc full of supplementary material it is the absolute definition of a must buy when it comes to the Criterion Collection. It is, once again, on sale for $112.49, half off the Msrp of $224.99, and worth every penny. I spent the entire year going through it.
- 11/11/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Complete Jacques Tati (Criterion Collection) Every year Criterion seems to put together a collection of films that stands above the rest. Last year it was the Zatoichi collection of films, this year they celebrate Jacques Tati with a collection of his six feature films -- Jour de fecte, Monsieur Hulot's Holiday, Mon oncle, PlayTime, Trafic and Parade -- along with seven Tati-related short films. Unfortunately I was not sent a review copy, but once the Barnes & Noble, 50% off Criterion sale rolls around next month I think I'll have to add this one to my Christmas request list the same way I did with Zatoichi last year. As for my thoughts on the films, I personally love Hulot's Holiday and PlayTime, the latter of which you can read my review of the previous Criterion Blu-ray edition here, though as DVD Beaver has already shown, the transfer on this new release looks much different.
- 10/28/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Criterion will be bringing The Complete Jacques Tati to DVD and Blu-ray on October 28, delivering Tati's six feature films -- Jour de fete, Monsieur Hulot's Holiday, Mon oncle, PlayTime, Trafic and Parade -- as well as seven of his short films. Of that lot, PlayTime, the film many consider to be his masterpiece, has not only received a new 4K digital restoration, but it will be playing the BFI's Southbank as part of a wider Jacques Tati season in November. amz asin="B00LUSUWSQ" size="small"I reviewed the Criterion Blu-ray edition of PlayTime back in August 2009 and wrote of its plot: PlayTime follows Monsieur Hulot played by Tati himself as he makes his way from one setting to the next, but Hulot, this time, is not the main focus of attention. Instead, modern architecture is the theme as it dictates human behavior from straight lines in the film's early...
- 9/29/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick are notorious for the meticulous manner in which they constructed their films, shooting and reshooting to an incredible extent in order to get exactly what they wanted. But as demanding and thorough as they were, they pale in comparison to the precision of French filmmaker Jacques Tati. He only made a handful of films in his lifetime, with years separating each title as he tweaked and perfected them. His “Playtime,” is getting an official reissue, and there’s a new trailer to mark the occasion. Working from 1949 to 1974, Tati’s total feature output only consists of six movies—“Jour de Fete,” “Mr. Hulot’s Holiday,” “Mon Oncle,” “Trafic,” “Parade” and “Play Time.” Of these, many consider 1967’s “Playtime” to be his true masterpiece. After growing disillusioned with his signature Monsieur Hulot alter ego, nine years elapsed between this film and his previous effort,...
- 9/26/2014
- by Brent McKnight
- The Playlist
The first entry into my "Best Movies" section was Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (read my essay here) and after rights to the film were finally decided I speculated as to whether or not Criterion will finally get their hands on the absolute classics. The answer is a resounding Yes as the Blu-ray release of the film has just been announced for October 21 with the following features: New 4K digital restoration by the Film Foundation, with uncompressed monaural soundtrack on the Blu-ray New visual essay by : : kogonada New interview with filmmaker Lina Wertmuller, who worked as assistant director on the film Scholar David Forgacs discusses the period in Italy's history when the film was made New interview with Italian film journalist Antonello Sarno about the outlandish fashions seen in the film Audio interview with actor Marcello Mastroianni from the early 1960s, conducted by film historian Gideon Bachmann Felliniana,...
- 7/15/2014
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
The Complete Jacques Tati Boxset & 'La Dolce Vita' Anchors The Criterion Collection October Releases
For the most part, The Criterion Collection tends to serve up four or five films each month, and perhaps something in their Eclipse line of down and dirty releases. But this October, they've got stuff coming that's so big, they're keeping the focus where it should be, rather than spreading themselves too thin. First up is "The Complete Jacques Tati," which as the title suggests, will feature his six feature length films — "Jour de fête," "Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday," "Mon oncle," "PlayTime," "Trafic," and "Parade" — along with seven short films as well. Needless to say this has all been beautifully restored, and yes, it will be coming absolutely packed with extras. This thing will be teeming with documentaries, archival interviews, visual essays and much, much, much, more. It's everything you could want as a Tati fan or newcomer alike, so get on it. A bonafide classic, Criterion has finally got their mitts on.
- 7/15/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Every year, we here at Sound On Sight celebrate the month of October with 31 Days of Horror; and every year, I update the list of my favourite horror films ever made. Last year, I released a list that included 150 picks. This year, I’ll be upgrading the list, making minor alterations, changing the rankings, adding new entries, and possibly removing a few titles. I’ve also decided to publish each post backwards this time for one reason: the new additions appear lower on my list, whereas my top 50 haven’t changed much, except for maybe in ranking. Enjoy!
****
Special Mention:
Shock Corridor
Written and directed by Samuel Fuller
USA, 1963
Shock Corridor stars Peter Breck as Johnny Barrett, an ambitious reporter who wants to expose the killer at the local insane asylum. To solve the case, he must pretend to be insane so they have him committed. Once in the asylum,...
****
Special Mention:
Shock Corridor
Written and directed by Samuel Fuller
USA, 1963
Shock Corridor stars Peter Breck as Johnny Barrett, an ambitious reporter who wants to expose the killer at the local insane asylum. To solve the case, he must pretend to be insane so they have him committed. Once in the asylum,...
- 10/28/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Above: 20,000 Years in Sing Sing (Michael Curtiz, USA, 1932).
When I wrote about the posters of 1933 last week this was one poster I deliberately held back (though 20,000 Years in Sing Sing was released on Christmas Eve 1932, it is included in Film Forum’s retrospective). The early 1930s, no less than today—though the execution was a lot more interesting— was an era of big floating heads in movie posters. While 1920s movies had the occasional floating head poster for their biggest stars, artists and studios still favored the look of early silent posters with their head-to-toe portraits and snippets of narrative. Though Norma Desmond said famously of the silent era “We didn’t need dialogue...we had faces!” it was ironically with the coming of sound that faces started to dominate movie posters and, until Saul Bass, minimalism in American movie posters was almost non-existent.
All that makes the 20,000 Years poster,...
When I wrote about the posters of 1933 last week this was one poster I deliberately held back (though 20,000 Years in Sing Sing was released on Christmas Eve 1932, it is included in Film Forum’s retrospective). The early 1930s, no less than today—though the execution was a lot more interesting— was an era of big floating heads in movie posters. While 1920s movies had the occasional floating head poster for their biggest stars, artists and studios still favored the look of early silent posters with their head-to-toe portraits and snippets of narrative. Though Norma Desmond said famously of the silent era “We didn’t need dialogue...we had faces!” it was ironically with the coming of sound that faces started to dominate movie posters and, until Saul Bass, minimalism in American movie posters was almost non-existent.
All that makes the 20,000 Years poster,...
- 2/22/2013
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
Throughout the month of October, Editor-in-Chief and resident Horror expert Ricky D, will be posting a list of his favorite Horror films of all time. The list will be posted in six parts. Click here to see every entry.
As with all lists, this is personal and nobody will agree with every choice – and if you do, that would be incredibly disturbing. It was almost impossible for me to rank them in order, but I tried and eventually gave up.
****
Special Mention:
American Psycho
Directed by Mary Harrron
Written by Mary Harron
2000, USA
Bret Easton Ellis’s dark and violent satire of America in the 1980s was brought to the big screen by director Mary Harron. Initially slapped with the MPAA’s kiss of death (an Nc-17 rating), American Psycho was later re-edited and reduced to a more commercially dependable “R”. Perhaps the film works best as a slick satire about misogyny,...
As with all lists, this is personal and nobody will agree with every choice – and if you do, that would be incredibly disturbing. It was almost impossible for me to rank them in order, but I tried and eventually gave up.
****
Special Mention:
American Psycho
Directed by Mary Harrron
Written by Mary Harron
2000, USA
Bret Easton Ellis’s dark and violent satire of America in the 1980s was brought to the big screen by director Mary Harron. Initially slapped with the MPAA’s kiss of death (an Nc-17 rating), American Psycho was later re-edited and reduced to a more commercially dependable “R”. Perhaps the film works best as a slick satire about misogyny,...
- 10/25/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Michel Hazanavicius on the set of The Artist
Photo: The Weinstein Co. I first saw The Artist at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (my review here) and before it even had its first screening it was snatched up for distribution by the Weinstein Co. and there was a buzz in the air. A black-and-white film in this day and age was one thing, but a black-and-white silent film in the age of CG, 3D and Blu-ray was unthinkable. Yet, writer/director Michel Hazanavicius dared to prove a format most people only associate with their great grandparents can tell a story just as well as James Cameron can with performance capture 3D in Avatar... better in fact.
After its Cannes debut it hit the festival circuit, moving from Moscow to Athens and from Zurich to Leeds. Now it is set to hit theaters on November 25 and hopefully win over...
Photo: The Weinstein Co. I first saw The Artist at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year (my review here) and before it even had its first screening it was snatched up for distribution by the Weinstein Co. and there was a buzz in the air. A black-and-white film in this day and age was one thing, but a black-and-white silent film in the age of CG, 3D and Blu-ray was unthinkable. Yet, writer/director Michel Hazanavicius dared to prove a format most people only associate with their great grandparents can tell a story just as well as James Cameron can with performance capture 3D in Avatar... better in fact.
After its Cannes debut it hit the festival circuit, moving from Moscow to Athens and from Zurich to Leeds. Now it is set to hit theaters on November 25 and hopefully win over...
- 11/21/2011
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
Choosing my favourite horror films of all time is like choosing between my children – not that I have children, but if I did, I am sure I would categorize them quite like my DVD collection. As with all lists, this is personal and nobody will agree with every choice – and if you do, that would be incredibly disturbing. Also, it was almost impossible for me to rank them in order, but I tried. I based my list taking into consideration three points:
1- Technical accomplishments / artistry and their influence on the genre.
2- How many times I’ve revisited the films and how easily it makes for a repeated viewings.
3- Its story, atmosphere and how much it affected me when I first watched them.
Finally, there are many great films such as The Witchfinder General, The Wickerman and even Hour Of The Wolf that won’t appear here. I...
1- Technical accomplishments / artistry and their influence on the genre.
2- How many times I’ve revisited the films and how easily it makes for a repeated viewings.
3- Its story, atmosphere and how much it affected me when I first watched them.
Finally, there are many great films such as The Witchfinder General, The Wickerman and even Hour Of The Wolf that won’t appear here. I...
- 10/29/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
42 – Nosferatu: The First Vampire
Directed by F.W. Murnau
1922 – Germany
The earliest surviving film based on Dracula is Nosferatu, an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. One of the first vampire movies, it is perhaps on one of the best vampire movies ever made. Generally creepy from beginning to the last frame.
41- Spirits Of The Dead (Histoires extraordinaires)
Directed by
Federico Fellini (segment Toby Dammit)
Louis Malle (segment William Wilson)
Roger Vadim (segment Metzengerstein)
1968 – France
First thing to notice is the three directors: Federico Fellini, Louis Malle and Roger Vadim. Second you need to take notice in the cast which includes Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda, Alain Delon, Terence Stamp, Salvo Randone, James Robertson Justice, Françoise Prévost and Marlène Alexandre. Spirits Of The Dead is an adaptation of three Edgar Allan Poe stories that amount to one mixed bad, but with one incredible segment that needs to be seen.
Directed by F.W. Murnau
1922 – Germany
The earliest surviving film based on Dracula is Nosferatu, an unauthorized adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. One of the first vampire movies, it is perhaps on one of the best vampire movies ever made. Generally creepy from beginning to the last frame.
41- Spirits Of The Dead (Histoires extraordinaires)
Directed by
Federico Fellini (segment Toby Dammit)
Louis Malle (segment William Wilson)
Roger Vadim (segment Metzengerstein)
1968 – France
First thing to notice is the three directors: Federico Fellini, Louis Malle and Roger Vadim. Second you need to take notice in the cast which includes Brigitte Bardot, Jane Fonda, Peter Fonda, Alain Delon, Terence Stamp, Salvo Randone, James Robertson Justice, Françoise Prévost and Marlène Alexandre. Spirits Of The Dead is an adaptation of three Edgar Allan Poe stories that amount to one mixed bad, but with one incredible segment that needs to be seen.
- 10/28/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
For the horror buff, Fall is the best time of the year. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling and a feeling of death hangs on the air. Here at Sound on Sight we have some of the biggest horror fans you can find. We are continually showcasing the best of genre cinema, so we’ve decided to put our horror knowledge and passion to the test in a horror watching contest. Each week in October, Ricky D, James Merolla and Justine Smith will post a list of the horror films they have watched. By the end of the month, the person who has seen the most films wins. Prize Tbd.
Justine Smith (11 viewings) Total of 31 viewings
Purchase
Spider Baby or The Maddest Story Ever Told
Directed by Jack Jill
This movie is very fun, not so much scary as gleefully depraved. The film revels in it’s childhood attitude,...
Justine Smith (11 viewings) Total of 31 viewings
Purchase
Spider Baby or The Maddest Story Ever Told
Directed by Jack Jill
This movie is very fun, not so much scary as gleefully depraved. The film revels in it’s childhood attitude,...
- 10/18/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
The Ghent International Film Festival will honor the late French director, actor and comedian Jacques Tati with an exhibition called "In Double Quick Time."
Produced by the Cinematheque Francaise in collaboration with Les Films de Mon Oncle, the exhibition is a collaboration between the fest and the East Flanders Cultural Center. The exhibit will run through Jan. 16.
Tati's body of work from 1949-74 includes numerous classics, beginning with "Jour de Fete." His pointed, off-kilter criticism of modernism was evident in all of his films including "Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot" (1953), "Mon Oncle" (1958), and "Trafic" (1971). The Monsieur Hulot character in "Trafic" was the perfect personification of the Tati touch.
A 310-page catalog will be produced for the exhibition.
The fest also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the World Soundtrack Awards, which will feature 11 top film composers performing with the Belgian Philharmonic Orchestra: Oscar winners Howard Shore (the "Lord of the Rings...
Produced by the Cinematheque Francaise in collaboration with Les Films de Mon Oncle, the exhibition is a collaboration between the fest and the East Flanders Cultural Center. The exhibit will run through Jan. 16.
Tati's body of work from 1949-74 includes numerous classics, beginning with "Jour de Fete." His pointed, off-kilter criticism of modernism was evident in all of his films including "Les Vacances de Monsieur Hulot" (1953), "Mon Oncle" (1958), and "Trafic" (1971). The Monsieur Hulot character in "Trafic" was the perfect personification of the Tati touch.
A 310-page catalog will be produced for the exhibition.
The fest also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the World Soundtrack Awards, which will feature 11 top film composers performing with the Belgian Philharmonic Orchestra: Oscar winners Howard Shore (the "Lord of the Rings...
- 6/17/2010
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Jacques Tati is a name that is well known amongst the Criterion Collection. With such films as M. Hulot’s Holiday (1953, Spine #110), Mon Oncle (1958, Spine #111), Playtime (1967, Spine #112) and Trafic (1971, Spine #439) in the collection already, is there any surprise that Tati is still an inspiration for filmmakers around the world, still in his home country of France. Even animators look to him as a source of comedic genius and always want to replicate what he’s done on the big screen.
Which is exactly what Sylvain Chomet, who did the wonderfully animated film The Triplets of Belleville has done with his new film, The Illusionist. Not to be mistakened for the Edward Norton starrer, this ‘illusionist’ is about an older magician who might have lost the spark of his entertainment business. What’s uncanny is the eerie resemblance to an aged Jacques Tati this magician has.
I’m a bit excited about this film,...
Which is exactly what Sylvain Chomet, who did the wonderfully animated film The Triplets of Belleville has done with his new film, The Illusionist. Not to be mistakened for the Edward Norton starrer, this ‘illusionist’ is about an older magician who might have lost the spark of his entertainment business. What’s uncanny is the eerie resemblance to an aged Jacques Tati this magician has.
I’m a bit excited about this film,...
- 3/24/2010
- by James McCormick
- CriterionCast
So last year I joined Twitter and desperately struggled to figure out a good use for it. Assuming most people following my account might come from the Film Junk podcast, I thought it might be an idea platform to keep track of what films I've been watching and what ratings I give them. My first post was March 9th, 2009 with David Cronenberg's The Brood (3.5/4) and since then I've managed to check out a good number of great films over the last year. (Jacques Tati's Play Time and Wim Wender's Paris, Texas are definitely two stand outs on this list.) Many of these are first time viewings, but a there are also a lot of movies I just felt the urge to revisit. So what do you think? Any favourites? Have a look for yourself after the jump! The Brood, (Cronenberg, 1979) 3.5/4 Operation Crossbow (Anderson, 1965) 3.5/4 Watchmen, (Snyder, 2009) 3/4 Pontypool, (McDonald, 2008) 4/4 Pinocchio,...
- 3/10/2010
- by Jay C.
- FilmJunk
Jacques Tati was a master of burlesque. Emilie Bickerton on a French revolutionary
If you told Jacques Tati that his flight was delayed, he'd say terrific – and settle down to watch what he considered "the best movie of the year": people passing by. Observation gave the director all the material he needed for the four films he made over three decades. Tati liked to call himself "the Don Quixote of cinema", which captures his combination of idealism, imagination and generosity. Monsieur Hulot, his charming, self-effacing but out-of-synch comic creation, is the character with whom he is most often, and fondly, associated. But Tati's work cannot be reduced to the man with the too-short trousers. His films – from the early burlesque of Jour de fête in 1949 to the highly stylised modernism of Play Time in 1967 – might not have an intellectual message, but they are delightful witnesses to the second half...
If you told Jacques Tati that his flight was delayed, he'd say terrific – and settle down to watch what he considered "the best movie of the year": people passing by. Observation gave the director all the material he needed for the four films he made over three decades. Tati liked to call himself "the Don Quixote of cinema", which captures his combination of idealism, imagination and generosity. Monsieur Hulot, his charming, self-effacing but out-of-synch comic creation, is the character with whom he is most often, and fondly, associated. But Tati's work cannot be reduced to the man with the too-short trousers. His films – from the early burlesque of Jour de fête in 1949 to the highly stylised modernism of Play Time in 1967 – might not have an intellectual message, but they are delightful witnesses to the second half...
- 12/5/2009
- The Guardian - Film News
There is something insanely romantic about a movie on a city rooftop. And I’m not just talking taking a hold of your girl’s hand. It’s the night air, the hint nostalgia for drive-in movies, and hopefully stars in the sky as well as the screen.
Here is Portland’s schedule thanks to the Northwest Film Center …
The Northwest Film Center presents: Top Down: Rooftop Films July 16-August 27 This summer the Northwest Film Center’s Top Down rooftop cinema event is back for a fifth season. Warm starry nights in downtown Portland are filled with entertaining films, culinary treats, live music and spectacular city views, all atop the panoramic parking rooftop at the Hotel deLuxe (Sw 15th at Yamhill). The evenings begin at 8pm with local music and refreshments. Gracie’s Restaurant will offer easy-to-juggle meals, snacks and cocktails, and additional beverages will be available from Tazo and BridgePort Brewing.
Here is Portland’s schedule thanks to the Northwest Film Center …
The Northwest Film Center presents: Top Down: Rooftop Films July 16-August 27 This summer the Northwest Film Center’s Top Down rooftop cinema event is back for a fifth season. Warm starry nights in downtown Portland are filled with entertaining films, culinary treats, live music and spectacular city views, all atop the panoramic parking rooftop at the Hotel deLuxe (Sw 15th at Yamhill). The evenings begin at 8pm with local music and refreshments. Gracie’s Restaurant will offer easy-to-juggle meals, snacks and cocktails, and additional beverages will be available from Tazo and BridgePort Brewing.
- 7/9/2009
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
If you’ve never heard of M. Hulot I envy you. First go out and buy Criterions 2 Disc version of Playtime. Then invite several friends over and start the screening early so you’ll have plenty of time to talk about how much you all enjoyed it. Then go out and get Trafic, M. Hulots Holiday and Mon Uncle and wish that director Jacques Tati had made more movies starring his eternally befuddled middle-class protagonist M. Hulot. This is comedy on a grand scale. Imagine a thinking mans Chaplin in the modern world and a quieter sense of slapstick and you begin to get the charming often hilarious quality that is the legacy of M. Hulot.
Each of the M. Hulot films puts the character in a modern but completely familiar set of situations where he is completely in over his head. In Playtime these all have to do with...
Each of the M. Hulot films puts the character in a modern but completely familiar set of situations where he is completely in over his head. In Playtime these all have to do with...
- 9/4/2008
- by Canfield
- Screen Anarchy
Jacques Tati had an astonishing run of success in the '40s and '50s with his puckish comedies Jour De Fête, Mr. Hulot's Holiday, and Mon Oncle, each of which reduced everyday human behavior to a set of clockwork actions, easily gummed up. Then Tati gambled all his goodwill—and most of his personal savings—on the 1967 comedy Playtime, for which he built an elaborate set meant to replicate the sterile, officious city he felt Paris had become. Playtime is Tati's crowning achievement, simultaneously bleak, beautiful, and stunningly choreographed. But it was a little too clean and reactionary for the shaggy '60s, and its financial failure left Tati unable to work on such a grand scale again. The same critics and cineastes who were initially cool to Playtime were equally indifferent to Trafic, a more modest 1971 comedy featuring Tati's signature character Mr. Hulot as an automotive engineer embarking on a.
- 7/16/2008
- by Noel Murray
- avclub.com
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