#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

#119 - Withnail and I

#119 is a mega-British Cult Classic I was apparently unaware of till now - Withnail and I

I should have got to this sooner - it's on the Criterion Channel, even though the DVD is out of print with them, and we're under quarantine for crying out loud.

The plot reminds me of a lot of other movies - two buddies go on a bit of a drinking and drug binge in the country - it reminds me a LOT of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas - (notice the Ralph Steadman artwork!)

I guess it's semi-autobiographical by Bruce Robinson, but I don't know the director.  Richard E. Grant does his best lying and drunk scoundral here - (and he's pulled that off a few times - LOL) - and Paul McGann, who to be honest, I know mostly as the 8th Doctor from Doctor Who. 

But the two characters and the way they interact with themselves and each other is pretty cool - one part Trainspotting, one part Fear and Loathing, one part On the Road, all in Camden Town in London - LOL.

the channel has a 30 min documentary with the actors, directors, and so forth - and I stumbed onto a website where they have showings for 100 people every year at the site of the old cottage.   Crazy cult following which is great - and it's part of the George Harrison production company Handmade Films, so you gotta love that.  Easy way to get a free Beatles song in the soundtrack - LOL

Not a bad film - wish I had gotten to it sooner - might enjoy another viewing someday

#118 - Sullivan's Travels

Another comedy by Preston Sturges - (prev. seen in The Lady Eve, #103)

it's a movie that actually tries to make light of the serious comedies that were coming out at the time - this is our first appearance of Veronica Lake, a femme fatale who made a nice number of films in the 40's and probably was a pin-up girl in a few GI's napsacks.  And it was an entertaining little tidbit but nothing to write home about

The Bluray has some special features but i won't be getting into them - glad this one is done - another 1940's romantic comedy from Hollywood that never held interest for me

#117 - Diary of a Chambermaid

#117 wasn't quite as salacious as I thought it would be - I think there's an expectation that "Diary of a xxxxxx" films are usually quite sexual in nature - there's some stuff in here that might be risque in the early 60's but not really in France I don't think

In fact it turned out to be a bit of a drama/thriller film - it was made in the 60's but set before WWII which is interesting because there is some anti-antisemitism and nationalism shown here that would have clearly been calling out the French before WWII and their ideals at the time it was made.    Something it reminds me of is the extreme Japanese Militarism that was called out in later 60's films like "The Human Condition" - it's a look back at an ugly time and not flinching or covering it up.   In fact, I read in a book one time that if you were to go to people in 1900, tell them a massive holocaust of Jewish people would take place and that it would be instigated by one country, you'd be far more likely to hear them say France instead of Germany would be predicted to be the instigator.

And this all comes at the hands of a Spanish Director - intriguing - I am sure special features might be a nice addition to this but it's out of print and the CC only had the film.

It's a decent film - Jeanne Moreau hasn't been on our radar yet but she will show up soon - I'm especially interested in seeing her in Elevator to the Gallows.   She has already worked in film for 15 years when this was made.   She will make a great femme-fatale character, I think and reminds me a bit of Barbara Stanwick but we'll see.

Anyhoo I won't get into the story too much but it did take a bit to ramp up and then in the 2nd act went in a direction I was not expecting but good for them.

RB