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eldiran-24234
Reviews
Old (2021)
Shyamalan Continues His Decline
Although many hoped that 'Split' might be a return to the competent director who did the incredible 'Sixth Sense' (though actually, it was wasn't--it was just Not-As-Bad as his previous few films), 'Old' is up there (or down there) with his 'The Happening' as a truly awful film in every way. His attempt at humor has always backfired, but here...and the photography, the confusing editing, the dreadful acting (poor. Garcia Bernal). Sad, because it is an interesting story idea, and could have worked in the hands of a better director. Seriously--IT'S THAT BAD.
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)
Better Than The Critics Would Lead You To Believe (they often get it wrong)
I was wonderfully surprised when I saw this--I was in UK at the time, and the critics there agreed that while 'Hugo" was a good film with a weak boy lead, this film had a good performance in a weak film, so I went in with trepidation. And its shameful that critics would praise the populace rubblish of so many superhero movies and taint this one--it is Unique, Surprising, Clever, Touching and not at all maudlin or trite or expolitive (9-11 is a sub-character in the story). And the kid IS terrific, as are all the supporting performances by Von Sydow, Davis, Wright, Hanks and even Bulloch (those two 'stars' have only a few minutes each in the film, though their parts are pivitol). Really--give it a try. You have never seen anything quite like it. Another wonderful and meaningful film from director Daldry (and he ireally gets the best out of
chld actors)
Funny Girl (1968)
Thrilling Performance in Mediocre Film
It is hard to imagine what a revelation it must have been to have witnessed somebody like Streisand on the screen at the time---unconventionally looks (expecially by Hollywood standards) with this unfathomably tremendous talent. Everybody knew she had a pehnomenal singing voice, but that she could be so charming AND dramatic....The film itself, though, is another thing, and very far from the Broadway play that created it--half the musical numbers (and character arcs!) were taken out, and new ones put in (and not necessarily improvements).It wobbles along, and though never bad, it doesn't quite work as a cohesive whole. But then there is the central point around which it all pivots--Streisand--the sparks and magnificence and raw natural talent of which we shall never see again. So do not see it for a 'good film' (or even a 'good musical', because it never was) but for that spark at the center. Phenomenal!
Teorema (1968)
An Insightful, Important (but flawed) Film
As always with Pasolini, we get clumsy acting, dialogue and camera work, though here the story is so important and vital that I've given it more stars than it aesthetically deserves. A stranger appears within a wealthy Italian family, is seduced/seduces each of them--old and young, women and men--and they are all changed by his (its) presence. Though Terence Stamp is perfect physically for the androgynous/bisexual angel, he is a bit adrift among Pasolini's amateurish melodramatic and kitschy handling of film-making. I recommend it ONLY for the brave and rare portrayal of Connection/Love as genderless
The Way We Were (1973)
Misunderstood Politics as Love Story
Although this film works tremendously as a love story (or rather, anti-love story, for they break up to stay authentic to their perspectives), the larger point of the film is to trace the evolution of American Thought,--'The Way WE Were'-- from a time before Total Commercialism took over. Streisand here is the Idealist who fights for the Rights of others, and Redford is the happy-go-lucky privileged guy who simply (though regrettably) wants to live an uncomplicated life of sacrifice--two different options that battled in America from the late '20's on. Here the two Ideals are attracted to each other, and though they share an admiration, are not complementary. (A point much better made if you include the tragically cut deleted scenes--see YouTube) Great Star power by the 2 leads, and some really thoughtful dialogue (especially restaurant fight scene) that raise this film far above simply 'a love story'.