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Reviews
The Ballad of Mott the Hoople (2010)
Solid Look At Underappreciated Band
Great interviews, lots of interesting stories and great music add up to a solid music documentary of an underappreciated band, active from 1969-1974. David Bowie (who penned their first hit, "All The Young Dudes"), Queen, Mick Jones of the Clash, Morrissey, R. E. M. And many other talented musicians were fans, but the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has snubbed them to date. Their Brain Capers album from 1972 anticipated punk music and their singer, Ian Hunter, has released scores of great songs and albums since the band's breakup. Hunter also wrote the celebrated book, Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star, about the bands 1972 US tour.
Soap (1977)
Cheap, shallow knockoff of Norman Lear's "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman"
I watched "Soap" with high expectations when it premiered in September 1977, but was sadly disappointed. It is nothing more than a cheap knockoff of the far superior, scathing satire of American life, Norman Lear's "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." The pilot for the latter was filmed in December of 1974, three years before "Soap" was created. "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman" was not picked up by the networks, so Lear syndicated it on local channels across the country, where it ran from January 1976 to May 1977. It received a loyal cult following and much critical acclaim. The networks, wanting to cash in once they saw the soap-opera framing and offbeat characters were successful, created a watered down version called "Soap." Some reviews note that "Soap" seemed like a Norman Lear creation, a la "All in the Family." This is because it was based on the Lear creation, "Hartman." Others note that it did not age well coming off as more slapstick than scathing satire today. Believe me, it seemed the same to me back in 1977. Please do yourself a favor and check out the first ten episodes of "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." You will be hooked as I was in 1976 and again recently, when I re-watched all 325 episodes. They all hold up well. It is still on target in terms of American life (only more so today), intellectually stimulating and hilarious.
Jeux interdits (1952)
Great black comedy
Wonderful story, beautifully shot and acted. The perfect blend of comedy and tragedy, like human nature is.
The war scenes throughout are nicely done and realistic--a great weaving in of stock footage.
Some scenes of horror and many of laugh-out-loud comedy, but all based in reality (not slapstick).
The lead child actors are both totally believable as are their adult counterparts.
Although the film resolves around death, it is never depressing--unless you consider the fact that humans repeat their mistakes generation after generation.
If you have the release with the Disneyesque alternative open and closing, don't watch them. Although the film was never released with these, they have stuck in my mind and cheapened the film for me. Without them the film is perfect and one of the best I've seen.