All Consuming : Mikhail Nikolayevich

Difficult (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:14:44 GMT

Out to Lunch

by Eric Dolphy

though.

Some (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:14:06 GMT

The Blues and the Abstract Truth

by Oliver Nelson

really great playing and ON’s arrangements/orchestration are superb.

A

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:41:18 GMT

W [Theatrical Release]

sympathetic, compassionate view of Mr Bush. I wonder if in reality Mr Bush and Mr Cheney shared a more accurate and honest understanding of who exactly was in charge. Somehow I doubt that their relationship was as depicted in this film.

I’d’ve liked to be able to read what was on the T-shirt W. was wearing in the depiction of the pretzel choking incident. There was a Scottie dog emblazoned on the shirt.

The Tony Blair segment was funny. The Tony part was written like he was a callow youth in comparison to W.—which is probably correct. In reality Tony Blair always looked to me to be very uncomfortable in Mr Bush’s presence.

Knowing very little about the subject, and if there is any truth in saying that the true judgement of a man lies in looking at his spouse, then at least from this depiction of Laura Bush, Mr Bush may be a decent man after all (although he fails miserably in projecting this in his words or actions as President of the USA).

The soundtrack was crap, and confusing I thought. Maybe one or two exceptions.

A story about "Close-Up"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 07:20:28 GMT

Close-Up

I didn’t really get it but it was interesting to get a glimpse of a different culture (not so different really and worlds apart at the same time).

A story about "Bicycle Thieves (Criterion Collection)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:08:40 GMT

Bicycle Thieves (Criterion Collection)

by Vittorio De Sica

So that was Bicycle Thieves—very good!

Why I recommend "Smiles Of A Summer Night - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:36:14 GMT

Smiles Of A Summer Night - Criterion Collection

by Ingmar Bergman

Wonderful film.

A story about "Bob Dylan - No Direction Home"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 11:24:37 GMT

Bob Dylan - No Direction Home

I liked his comment to the autograph hunters, “You don’t need it so I won’t give it.”

A story about "Land and Freedom (1996. Starring: Ian Hart, Rosana Pastor, Icíar Bollaín)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:24:59 GMT

Land and Freedom (1996. Starring: Ian Hart, Rosana Pastor, Icíar Bollaín)

by Ken Loach

This is a good Ken Loach film. Not sure what makes the difference; different production values; the Spanish language; the passion and idealism of the people in the anarchist militias, and of the peasants; the light. Anyway it has some really good scenes where people are debating the best way to carry forward the revolution and beat the fascists. It brings to life some of the things I’ve read in George Orwell about the divisions between the different left wing factions involved in the Spanish Civil war.

One funny bit is where the main character, Liverpudlian David Carr, who has now gone over to the communist side, aims at an anarchist sniper and hits an old lady’s shopping bag and then shouts “Sorry!”. It’s believable.

Thanks Coupland for the suggestion.

A story about "Full Moon in Paris"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:14:01 GMT

Full Moon in Paris

by Eric Rohmer

There’s a good page here about this movie. I must admit that at the end of the film I was thinking that Rémy was lucky to have started a relationship with a woman we’d seen briefly earlier in the film at a party and who looked both very attractive and interesting. Not that I didn’t like Louise or feel some sympathy for her. Saying “The one experience I’ve missed is loneliness, and the pain it causes”, and then desperately phoning people in her phone book when her plans for a Saturday night fall through shows that she doesn’t really know herself all that well though. Maybe after what happens in the course of the film that would change for her.

At the start of the film my heart sank at the sight of some dreary suburban setting. The setting is part of a joke against Rémy. I don’t watch French films to see some dreary suburban setting I thought. But pretty soon we’re in Paris and the scene is a bit more interesting even if it is the 1980s.

A good, interesting movie.

A story about "Japon - Director's Unrated Edition"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:29:06 GMT

Japon - Director's Unrated Edition

by Carlos Reygadas

Unfortunately the copy of the DVD that I got from the public library didn’t allow me to see the last 10 minutes. Up to that point I was enjoying this movie which is more of a meditation on…I don’t know what exactly (there are some good reviews at imdb by more articulate reviewers) but I was engrossed in what was unfolding on my 19” monitor (it must be even better in the cinema).

I was enjoying being made to feel uncomfortable as well. Reyogadas has a comment to the effect that he makes movies for people who go to the cinema to experience life not to forget about it. Very slow pace, little dialogue, hints of religious meaning, scenes which will shock you, good choice of music for the soundtrack. I’m glad that people are still making films like this one.

A story about "The Cranes are Flying - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:30:28 GMT

The Cranes are Flying - Criterion Collection

by Mikheil Kalatozishvili

Not very convincing but doubtless a sincere antiwar sentiment at the end of the movie.

A story about "Fate of a Man (aka The Destiny of a Man)(Sud’ba cheloveka)(S. Bondarchuk, 1959)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:34:03 GMT

Fate of a Man (aka The Destiny of a Man)(Sud’ba cheloveka)(S. Bondarchuk, 1959)

Interesting that at the end of the story the man (Andrei I think he’s called) having lost his family for the second time in his life decides to care for an orphan. Great (anti)war story with some very tense moments but a reflective and inspiring ending.

A story about "Au revoir les enfants - criterion collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 19:23:11 GMT

Au revoir les enfants - criterion collection

by Louis Malle

Really great Louis Malle movie. The ending is very moving.

A story about "Spirit of the Beehive - Criterion Collection"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:40:43 GMT

Spirit of the Beehive - Criterion Collection

by Víctor Erice

A wonderful movie. Beautiful photography, and soundtrack. Simple elements put together with a memorable performance from Ana Torrent. A fine evocation of childhood.

A story about "Un Coeur en Hiver ( A Heart in Winter )"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:15:43 GMT

Un Coeur en Hiver ( A Heart in Winter )

by Claude Sautet

Really great French film.

Un coeur en hiver

_At first sight “A Heart in Winter” is the story of a love triangle, a variation of the basic and often filmed competition of two men for the affection of a woman. At second sight, however, the film is a treatment of the philosophical question “What is love?” Unlike typical Hollywood movies, “A Heart in Winter” is not based on such popular premises as: love is the answer to everything, sexual consummation is the ultimate closure, or monogamous commitments are tantamount to happy endings. Sautet’s film subverts any such clichés by wondering about the nature of what people call “love,” by showing, for example, how much more weighty a passing glance can be than wild cohabitation, or by exploring the possibility that a quiet, solitary life can be as rich and deep as one that is crowded by emotional demands and relentless instinctual pressures. _

A story about "I'm Not There"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 17:24:15 GMT

I'm Not There

This film was okay for a while, in fact it was very exciting at the start, but it began to drag a bit.

That’s kind of how I feel about Dylan although I should say I know very little about him or his music. I mean I like the early Bob Dylan, and I know little of the later things he’s done.

It was interesting seeing the reaction to the electric Bob Dylan. Unfortunately the soundtrack went silent for about 4 or 5 minutes at this point and at first it was difficult to tell whether this was on the part of the filmmaker or the projection box. We didn’t regain sound until an interview in London; so the projection box I think was to blame. The sound was therefore back for the famous Judas heckle at the Manchester Free Trade Hall concert. I could feel a certain amount of sympathy for Dylan at this point.

The Richard Gere character scenes were a bit mystifying to me.

I couldn’t help feeling that Bob Dylan was a tremendous talent, some would say that he still is, but it was pitiful seeing him (or Jack Rollins or whoever) say that he had accepted Jesus in his heart. I don’t know why I feel that as I don’t wish to disrespect either him or the Christian religion. It just seems weak somehow (so okay I’m being disrespectful of Christianity—not cool I know).

A story about "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:55:41 GMT

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

by Andrew Dominik

I didn’t mind the length of the film nor that it was slow, nor that I couldn’t work out what was going on for half the time. I loved the huge font used for the credits. JJ’s associates seemed to me to be very poor liars. I was interested in the title not knowing anything about JJ or RF. The Wikipedia quotes from a letter written by RF to Governor Thomas Crittenden:

Instantly his real purpose flashed upon my mind. I knew I had not fooled him. He was too sharp for that. He knew at that moment as well as I did that I was there to betray him. But he was not going to kill me in the presence of his wife and children. He walked over to the bed, and deliberately unbuckled his belt, with four revolvers in it, and threw it on the bed. It was the first time in my life I had seen him without that belt on, and I knew that he threw it off to further quiet any suspicions I might have.

Jesse James

A story about "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 17:52:13 GMT

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

by Ron Hansen

Jesse James

A story about "Little Miss Sunshine"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:25:28 GMT

Little Miss Sunshine

by Jonathan Dayton

So to me it was about how off these little miss pageants are; the contestants (other than Olive) were grotesque, yet it was Olive who showed the thing up for what it was, admittedly unknowingly.

I loved the way the family came together at the end joining Olive on stage. And that her brother wanted to protect her. (Loved the character of this brother who had taken a vow of silence and read Nietzsche.) And the grandfather, was sorry to see him go.

A review of "Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose (8): A Memoir of Love, Exile, and Crosswords" (rated 4 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 09:07:33 GMT

Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose (8): A Memoir of Love, Exile, and Crosswords

by Sandy Balfour

Wrinkled old retainer (7)

Scrotum

Bust down reason (9)

Brainwash

Two of the funnier clues Sandy Balfour mentions in his book.

It’s very enjoyable.

A review of "Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain" (rated 5 stars)

nobody@allconsuming.net (Mikhail Nikolayevich) — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 07:17:10 GMT

Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain

by Sparklehorse

~~Disappointing. Nothing really new from Mark Linkous on this one.~~

I take it back; it’s brilliant!