#126 - Ordet

Feeling better about my pace - just got about 20 new Samurai movies so I may be slowing down once I get to the documentary in a couple films just cause I can't get them until the libraries reopen.

Another film by Dreyer based upon another play - (Ordet translates to Word) - about a couple of pious families, one more so than the other, hashing out their difference when two of the kids want to wed.

I won't get too deep - (I never do) but what stood out here were some pretty long shots that Dreyer took - one sticks out to me of the crazy son who thinks he's Jesus and his niece discussing whether her mom would die and what he would do about it - it's just a long shot that the camera slowly works it's way around and it stuck out to me in a film of mostly longer shots - (some as long as 7 minutes)

I thought this tidbit from Wikipedia about how long he took to shoot - (4 months) and how he did a shot was very interesting...

Dreyer's shooting method was to shoot one individual shot per day. In the mornings Dreyer would rehearse with the actors while simultaneously blocking their movement, set up lights and block the camera movement. Then at the very end of the day Dreyer would film the single shot, usually shooting between 2 and 3 takes. Dreyer chose not to pre-plan any shots and every decision was made the day of the shoot.

These Danish films are a bit slow to get started and I've been multitasking too much when watching time - will try better next time.

RB

#125 - Day of Wrath

I probably didn't give this film my best 100% undivided attention - it was a bit slow in pacing and so I struggled cause it was on my PC and I split screened it - I had to go back a couple times.

But it's an interesting film in light of the Nazi Occupation of Denmark which was going on at the time.   It's a film about the oppression of society and authorities, and I guess it had an impact on the Dutch at the time.   There's probably a documentary out there about the cinema in occupied WWII countries, and I know there's on about 3rd Reich Cinema called Hitler's Hollywood.

it's interesting to see this in light of Le Corbeau, another occupation film coming up later (#227) - also a film about oppression, rumors, communial persecution, etc...and I'm wondering if all occupation cinema, the good stuff anyways, has these kind of themes

So basically, it's based on a play about an old pastor and his young wife who he apparently got to marry him under less than honorable circumstances.  As one might imagine, said wife's fancy turns to his young son when he comes home.

It's a little funny to see this in light of Joan of Arc, although he did some other stuff in between.   You have another situation at the beginning with a woman being hunted, religious inquisitors, and someone being burnt to death as a witch - (see that old lady on the cover - yep, she's crispy) - so he isn't going over entirely new ground here but it's a good film and it did feel very well shot

We'll see how the next two hold up.

RB

#124 - Carl Theodor Dreyer Box Set

So, we're still at a point where the box sets and the films in them have seperate numbers so I GUESS before I watch a film, the OCD in me needs an entry for #124 - let's see what we have found

we saw Carl's wonderful work in "The Passion of Joan of Arc" about 60 films back.   It appears he is Danish but was working French Cinema at the time.   Based on what I have read, we're getting his three Sound films (at the end of his career) that were in Danish, not including one before these where they mostly still used title cards.  We're also getting a documentary about his life, but it's not in the Criterion Channel.   It is in some of my local libraries and I can go curbside to pick it up - LOL - but I'll get thru these first and see if I want to drive to a library for curbside pickup - LOL

anyways, should be some good stuff coming up - it'll be a nice change from the contemporary settings of the last few films - at least a couple I believe are set in the 17th century

RB

#123 - Grey Gardens

Ok, so this one didn't hit me as hard as Salesman - in fact it took me a bit to get into it.

We have another documentary from the Maysles Brothers, and in this case they turn their attention to a mother/daughter duo living in squalor in a mansion in the Hamptons where Jackie O. once ran and played.

A lot to be said about what is essentially a window into their lives - it's a statement on mental illness, I feel - it was just an odd movie - no plot and no direction - just a window into their lives - I guess it's had an impact on fashion as the daughter Edie seemed to have her own unique style and a couple of the special features cover what Fashion designers thought of it and were inspired by but as for myself, I didn't get much out of it except a slightly distrubed feeling being in the lives of two people, one of whom clearly didn't mind the cameras and probably didn't feel exploited but I dunno...

So there's a followup with other footage from 2006 - it shows up in the 300's - I THOUGHT about watching it ahead of time but I think I'll just get to it when I get to it....not sure yet - I could also write the review and probably save it for 5 years but I think I'll give myself time to digest this and maybe come back in a couple years

RB

#122 - Salesman

Wow - now we're talking.   Got a couple more documentaries in the can from the Maysles Brothers and Charlotte Zwerin.   I never heard of this one but it hit me hard.   They did Gimme Shelter too, of course which we talked about and I think was our first documentary here we covered.

 I own Harlan County USA and to me it's one of the premier documentaries.   I love a good documentary even though we understand it may not be the best reflection of real life and in fact, may alter by the mere presence of the cameras what would otherwise happen, but for this one they got down to one camera, one mic, and the most unobtrusive presence possible for these guys.

We follow four Bible Salesmen in MA and FL as they're trying to sell these Bibles.   However, one man in particular, Paul is the focus of the story for the most part.   The story in some ways is the portrayal of a life of a man who's having a tough time in sales.   I guess in a bigger sense it's a story about materialism and the bible as a product, which is odd, cause you'd think God's world should be free, right?

This movie moved me to such an extent that I am rewatching it on the Criterion Channel with the commentary because it's such a fascinating glimpse into a world that isn't really here anymore.   Door to Door Salesmen don't exist anymore but the salesworld pushes on thru ads, targeted marketing, and so forth.

It was really something and a nice change from stuff that was dragging me down in the collection.

I really liked it.

#121 - Billy Liar

ah well, Billy might lie but I won't - getting a little fatigued from British comedies.

At least this one was a little different - apparently part of the British New Wave, Billy Liar takes us on a journey of a scheming young man's hyper-imagination.   He spends the movie trying to keep the multiple lies, fiancees, schemes, and balls juggling. 

I didn't recall John Schlesinger but when I looked up his name I recognized a few films.  Other than Julie Christie I didn't recognize any of the actors - it wasn't a bad film but my attention wandered and it was a struggle to get as my library source is currently closed and it's OOP and not on Criterion.

Nevertheless, we have a movie that is well, a movie - LOL - guess that's all I'll say about it

what bugs me is we have such good films coming up - Rashamon, Red Beard, Solaris, the diaries of Antoine Doniel, but I'm sorta stalling thru these - my plan is to carve out a movie a day hopefully the next few weeks as time allows telecommuting if possible - I'd like to start this sucker moving again

Anyways - there's mud in your eye #121

RB

#120 - How to Get Ahead in Advertising

Another Bruce Robinson and Richard Grant collabaration - (right after Withnail and I, I believe)

Kind of a weird satire/farce.   Didn't get into it very much - some good points but too preachy

Anyways not the worst move but not one of the better ones

RB