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Reviews
Suna no utsuwa (1974)
An Good Detective Story Undone by an Indulgent Director
This film is beautifully shot with many evocative images as the viewer is taken on a journey with two detectives trying to uncover the truth behind a murder. The first three-quarters of the film is an above-average procedural police drama that reveals long held secrets of both victim and suspect. The final section of the film strays far from the pacing and perspective of the earlier parts of the story, and devolves into an extended melodramatic tableaux of the lives of the killer and victim. This section is so lengthy and overwrought that the entire mood of the film, set in the movie earlier, is lost. The director would have benefited from a more steady hand in the editing room.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
If a character has to explain the plot then the film fails
I was curious to watch this movie because I had heard good things about it and I am a big fan of Michelle Yeoh. I was very disappointed by this mess of a movie. It started off well enough but then devolved into a series of jarring story shifts that overwhelmed any coherent story being told. Several times in the movie Evelyn's guide in an alternate universe delivers a rambling summary of what is going on. If a character in a film has to explain what is going on in the film then the filmmaker has failed in their primary task: making the film coherent to the audience. There is way too much dialogue attempting to describe what is going instead letting the story unfold on its own. The premise of the plot is interesting, but the story in the mind of the director was not translated before the camera effectively.
Battle Beneath the Earth (1967)
Makes "Plan 9 From Outer Space" Look Good
Truly awful, this may be the worst movie I've ever seen. Going in I was hopeful for a "so bad it's good" experience, but even here the film disappoints. The fact the plot is so ridiculous is not the problem, nor is the confusing editing or forgettable acting. The line the film crossed from just plain bad to epically bad is the portrayal of Chinese in the various speaking roles. With only one exception, no speaking role of an Asian character was played by Asians actors. Yet, there are several Asian extras in the cast, but only in non-speaking roles. This would be bad enough, but the make-up and accents used by the non-Asian actors playing Chinese is so extreme in its racial stereotypes as to be grotesque and unwatchable. If you're looking for a "it's so bad it's good" movie, look elsewhere.
The Lighthouse (2019)
Fog Envelopes This Film
"The Lighthouse" is a brilliant cinematic technical achievement that seems to get lost in its own story. The tale of two isolated lighthouse workers on a small island off the coast of New England is a visually engaging mood piece. Shot in black & white in a narrow aspect ratio, the visuals convey a sense of time and place that is truly remarkable. The performances by the two actors are equally strong. Extensive research on the life of 19th century lighthouse keepers gives authenticity to the portrayals by the two men.
Despite the strong technical and performance aspects of the film, the film suffers from by not providing enough markers for the audience to find its way through the virtual fog of the story. While the general trajectory of the story is clear, there are a number sequences that leave the viewer questioning whether the images are reality, dreams, delusions, or just poor directing & editing choices. There are similarities to the work of Fellini in some of this, but one wonders whether such a comparison might be too generous.
The Auschwitz Report (2021)
A Wasted Opportunity
With an important story to tell and a strong cast "The Auschwitz Report" had the basis for a very good film. However, the many well-crafted scenes in the film never seem to gel as a coherent whole. The main flaws in the film are holes in sections of the script and awkward editing. The build up of tension in the plot seems to go nowhere, leading to a rushed and anti-climatic conclusion. Better films of this genre are "Schindler's List" and "The Counterfeiters".
Blow Out (1981)
An above-average thriller that doesn't live up to it's potential
The combination of a terrific plot, a strong script, and good acting would seem to be the elements of great movie. However, I came away disappointed by "Blow Out" because it could have been so much better. The tension builds throughout the film as Jack (John Travolta) attempts to reveal a conspiracy. But about three-quarters of the way through the movie it begins to run out of steam. Ironically, for a plot where sound and sound recording is an integral part of the story, the musical score for the film was uninspired and at times insipid. This film had many good aspects, but it just didn't fulfill its potential.