The Godfather
June 28th, 2006
Pretty much every scene here is gold; this movie bears rewatching as much as anything; like Star Wars, it’s opera. The commentary track–just Coppola–is one of the best I’ve heard. I’ll gladly hang out with him, watch his movie, and have him tell me stories about it.
Superman Returns
June 22nd, 2006
Soulcrushingly boring.
Bryan Singer’s comic book spectacular features a latex-clad hero with fluttering cape; Michael Winterbottom’s docudrama is about men in chains and orange jumpsuits. Both films are about superpowers, truth, justice, and the American way. But which film tells the better story? Read Jürgen’s review mash-up.
The Night Porter
June 22nd, 2006
Great & twisted. Charlotte Rampling and Dirk Bogarde are both fantastic. Wicked.
Empire of the Sun
June 20th, 2006
Epic, cheesy, delicious. At times, Spielberg doesn’t quite seem to know if he’s making a serious historical drama or E.T. with Japs, and the syroupy John Williams score isn’t helping. Some terrific shots though, and Christian Bale and John Malkovich make for satisfying viewing.
Battlestar Galactica, Season 2
June 19th, 2006
Wednesday morning, 5:30am: can Commander Adama escape the Cylons this time? Yes, I’m seriously addicted, but now it’s over until the start of season 3 in October. This paranoid and claustrophobic series is narrative crack, and it takes the classic relationship troubles between humans and artificial intellgence (think Blade Runner) to the next level: now they reincarnate, and there are robot-human triangles and worse. No, this isn’t Shakespeare, but it’s compelling as all frack. The season finale is just about brilliant.
Only Human
June 19th, 2006
A thoroughly satisfying screwball comedy from Spain about a young woman who brings her Palestinian boyfriend home to her Jewish family. The overbearing mother tells her right away that it will never work, the zealous brother suspects terrorism, the absent father might be dead or cheating, a bellydancing sister threatens to steal the increasingly disoriented fiancé, and her little daughter pops up in all the wrong places at the wrong time–say, the business end of her blind grandfather’s rifle. Frozen soup turns into a deadly projectile, wounded ducks run wild, and of course, dinner is ruined.
Unlike the recent German farce Go for Zucker!, Only Human never gets bogged down under the weight of its issues but manages to tackle its serious moments deftly and without losing momentum. If only the real conflict could be solved with a hearty shouting match and a make-up kiss. Directed by Dominic Harari and Teresa de Pelegri, with Norma Aleandro, Guillermo Toledo, and Marián Aguilera. Only Human is now playing in theaters. 4 out of 5 stars. [Posted by Jürgen.]
More movies about the Middle East conflict: Paradise Now, Rana’s Wedding, Divine Intervention
