Brighton Rock/Red Cliff--Grade A

Spent part of last week in Palms Springs in the sun and wind, then helped my parents drive back to Seattle, so not much to report for new films, BUT I've seen some dandy older films.

Just saw BRIGHTON ROCK (1947) which played a week at SIFF Cinema and it's a sparkling diamond in the big,black and white film noir crown. Made in England by the Boulting brothers (they are sort of like the Coen brothers of the 1940's--writing and directing and producing a large and varied body of British cinema)--this film based on a Graham Greene novel introduced a very young, mean nasty Richard Attenborough to film audiences. "Pinkie" is the leader of a mob in Brighton (by the sea) and even though he's only 17 in the film, he bosses around and intimidates much old criminals, mobsters and even police. When he thinks he could be nailed for the murder of a small time crook, he's faced with a dilemma--should he kill the young innocent girl (she's also just 17 but very naive) who could incriminate him, or Marry her!?! Even though he doesn't seem to like women at all, he marries her! ( I kept wondering what type of childhood this young thug must have had for him to be so assuredly nasty.) But an older woman who suspects her new male friend was murdered (and not a suicide) is the only person who seems unafraid of this young hooligan and marches loudly and defiantly around town seeking the truth. She's played with marvelous bravado by Hermione Baddeley(see her in ROOM AT THE TOP, CHRISTMAS CAROL and MARY POPPINS) and she's his worst nightmare--she who will not be intimidated. The film is filled with misogynistic characters--there are many (sick) jokes by men of the hatred they have for their wives (but tempered with humor), and there is the constant fear that "Pinkie" will kill off his milquetoast wife. And there is a corker of an ending--ironic, pathetic, and perfect. GRADE---A-

Chinese director John Woo has had a hit-or-miss career directing Hollywood blockbusters (MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II, FACE-OFF, PAYCHECK, BULLET IN THE HEAD etc) but last year he released his most impressive film RED CLIFF (2009) in China to massive critical acclaim and tremendous box office appeal. Unfortunately, when the 5 1/2 hour film opened in America last September, it was trimmed down to just over 2 hours. That version has recently been released on DVD, and I must admit that I haven't much interest in seeing it, since I was loaned a copy of RED CLIFF--the full 5 1/2 hours by my movie buddy John R. and it is a beautifully epic action film with a lot of humor, emotion, thrills and intelligence. I can't imagine what could possibly be cut without losing a lot of sense. Based on a true, possibly mythical story and set during the final days of the Han dynasty, the action pits two determined leaders against each other--Cao Cao wants to smash and destroy all tribal leaders to unite the nation under one ruler, while the greatly out numbered rebels Liu Bei and Sun Quan join forces to try to stop him. It's a David vs Goliath story that comes to a bloody and explosive conclusion beneath the Red Cliffs, but the amazing thing is how detailed and intimate the plotting and action sequences are. Great care is taken to illuminate the policies and predicaments of each side, with ceremony and respect and honor. The film has a very spiritual core, and humor and even romance motivate the characters actions. As exciting as some of the battle scenes are, I found myself deeply moved by the sacrifice and friendship and love that are exhibited. There hasn't been an epic film like this since LAWRENCE OF ARABIA, and I urge you to seek out the two disc, 5 1/2 hour version for your DVD viewing. It's great. GRADE---- A

Clint Eastwood was already a big star when he starred in the 5 DIRTY HARRY films--having made FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE, THE GOOD, BAD AND UGLY, and PLAY MISTY FOR ME, etc., and they were big hits for him again--the urban western. The film that started it all, DIRTY HARRY (1971) still plays like gang busters, with Eastwood as a "renegade" cop who doesn't believe in the rights of scum criminals. Andy Robinson plays the deranged roof top sniper quite over the top, but I definitely was not bored, and the story and lines hold up well. This one has the famous line, " I know what you're thinking. Did he shoot off 6 bullets or only 5. To tell you the truth, in all this excitement I've forgotten myself. So you've got to ask yourself--Do you feel lucky? Well....do you PUNK?!?" GRADE---B+

You know, sometimes you just feel like a mindless action film, and one night two weeks ago it was time to catch up to FANTASTIC 4: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER(2007). It is not as much fun as the original film FANTASTIC 4, but it was serviceable, and the Silver Surfer character was fascinating to look at--sort of a spray-silvered naked man without genitalia--sort of like a PG-rated version of the hard R-rated blue (and very naked) Dr. Manhattan in WATCHMEN but not as intelligent or memorable. The plot has also nearly evaporated from my mind. GRADE---C

Last but surely not least is a limited run of a fine documentary that I saw at SIFF last May, which just opened today in Seattle--DANCING ACROSS BORDERS. When a dance enthusiast visited Cambodia a decade ago, she was struck by an older boy's flexibility and dance movements, and brought him to the U.S. for training, which he started in his mid-teens--rather late for a ballet dancer, yet he has gone on to great fame, dancing with Pacific Northwest Ballet and training at the School of American Ballet in New York. The film shows the culture shock, frustrated training experiences and joys of learning that the young dancer has experienced. For dance enthusiasts, it is a must. For others, it is an eye-opener. GRADE---B