THE SEPERATION, THE VOW, DECLARATION OF WAR, GOING POSTAL plus Michael Powell--RED SHOES, PHANTOM LIGHT, Red Ensign

Surprising in many ways, the Iranian film which has 2 Oscar nominations for best Foreign Film and best screenplay is a searing inditement of life in a repressive country. THE SEPARATION starts out with an intense scene between husband and wife in front of a judge, trying to explain why they want a divorce, although the reason given (he won't move out of the country with her and their 11 year old daughter) seems quite lame at best. It becomes clear that his reason for not moving--his elderly father suffers from severe dementia and cannot travel, and he feels compelled to keep providing for his care--is a valid one, and makes the wife seem rather selfish from the start. But as the film progresses, we see a complicated relationship that comes under even more stress when they have a trial separation, as a dramatic yet innocent fight (with a newly hired caretaker) takes on tragic proportions, emphasising the husband's stubbornness and selfishness. Through it all, the daughter plays a delicate balancing game to placate both parents, not wanting to loose either one. The film captures the frustrations of middle class daily life very well--streets crowded with masses of humanity and cars, no parking, noise pollution rampant, long lines for basic necessities, desperation with homelessness and unemployment, and a judicial system that seems possibly rife with corruption and/or persuasion with no justice or satisfaction for anyone. It is an eye-opening film. GRADE-----A-

A new film from Belgium called DECLARATION OF WAR has just opened for what will likely be a brief run in Seattle, but is is worth the effort to catch it. A young couple meet, mate, marry and procreate in the first 15 minutes, then start their life together with baby and assorted friends and family members in a newly renovated apartment. Not quite two years later they discover that baby has a serious brain tumor, and the film turns on the heat as all concerned fight for the life and health of the baby. It's a snappy, energetic film, which even though it is cut quickly and contains many restless scenes (of hospital visits, travel, visiting friends, trips to the disco, medical professionals opinions, etc) it resists the use the busy hand held camera (HALLELUJAH!), and becomes a positive testament on the love (and energy) that can triumph in the end. GRADE-------B+

The situation in THE VOW has a newly married, deeply in love young couple involved in a serious car accident. The husband (Tatum Channing) survives unscathed, but the wife (Rachel McAdams) who has inconveniently just unfastened her seat belt to kiss her love as they are rear-ended, suffers amnesia. She can't remember anything about her new life, but she remembers being in love with her sleazy boyfriend a few years before. Based on a true story, one wants to go with the film as a romantic will she or won't she theme. Unfortunately, the actors are incredibly dull. Channing is a hunk and takes his shirt off to prove it half a dozen times, but he talks like he has too many muscles in his mouth to make much sense. McAdams fares slightly better, but as we discover the life she left to be with her new husband, you want to scream at the screen--"do you really want to go back to your sleazebag ex-boyfriend and your intensely unhappy rich parents???!!!???" The direction is still-born, and the result is possibly the most boring film I've seen in years. GRADE-------D+

Following are DVD CHOICES for the week------------------------

Based on a book by Terry Pratchett, who has, I gather, a large cultish following for his fantastic other worldly stories that seem buried in modern themes but set in fantastical countries with fantastical creatures, the British film GOING POSTAL (2010) may be a good introduction to his twisted world. Based on a two part TV movie (185 minutes) the film, I was told, is pretty faithful to the novel, and I enjoyed the extravagant sets and amusing story, as a struggling post office is forced to compete with a company that uses computer like machinery to transfer mail around the country. The cast includes an amusing Richard Coyle as a con man forced to take over the dying post office by city leader Charles Dance (played as.....god?!?) and the devious David Suchet is the evil owner of the mechanical system out to stop him. The film is greatly benefited by being filmed on location in Hungary, with it's run down opulent buildings and other worldly streets. GRADE-----B

Ended up seeing 3 Michael Powell directed films this past week. First up, because I received a new Blu Ray edition, is the classic THE RED SHOES (1948) which holds up even better than ever. Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen, this film, beautifully photographed in color by legend Jack Cardiff tells the story of a young dancer who is willing to give up everything to become a star, even if it means giving up the man of her life. I'm always impressed by the cast, as real-life dancer Moira Shearer gives a great performance as dancer Victoria Page, which established her as a fine actress as well. I also find Anton Walbrook fascinating--he plays the cruel ballet director Boris Lermontov. Walbrook only made a few movies that made it to the US--I recently saw him in the memorable THE LIFE AND DEATH OF COLONEL BLIMP (1943), and 49th PARALLEL (1941)--both fine Powell films. I want to catch some of his early films from Europe (which include LA RONDE, an earlier version of GASLIGHT, and the original version of VICTOR/VICTORIA.)
Made earlier were RED ENSIGN (1934), a mildly interesting film about the struggle of a man eager to rebuild England's reputation as a major-ship building nation after WWI, but he struggles with money problems and sabotage, and THE PHANTOM LIGHT (1935) a slightly more interesting film about shady and mysterious goings on at a light house where several light house masters have disappeared, and where several ships have crashed. An interesting premise, but alas, the ending is rather predictable and flat. GRADE-----RED SHOES- A, PHANTOM LIGHT- C+, and RED ENSIGN- C

On the same disc as RED ENSIGN and PHANTOM LIGHT (called Classic British Thrillers) is a little known film noir called THE UPTURNED GLASS (1947). James Mason stars as a doctor and lecturer who becomes a sleuth to discover the meaning of his lover's mysterious death, but when he uncovers some information, he decides to seek revenge instead of going to the police. Mason is suburb, and the film has stuck in my mind for nearly two weeks since seen, a good sign of a strong movie. GRADE-----B

Bette Davis--so bad she's good

When she was bad, she was very very good. That's the take on many Bette Davis films, especially later in her career. Well Wednesday night I watched In This Our Life (1942) and Bette was very very bad. In fact, there is one line early on after she's run off with her sister's doctor husband where she coyly turns to him and blinks her big olive eyes and says, "You'd like to spank me right now, wouldn't you?" and Toni and I looked at each other and we both nodded. She then proceedes to ruin her new husband's life, then comes back to the family and tries to ruin her sister and her old boyfriend's life as well, before turning her sights on a family friend. She's just rich enough, spoiled enough and thoughtless enough to come out on top, but this being the 1940's, someone will stop her. It's not the best melodrama I've ever seen, but with Bette Davis in full bad girl mode, Olivia de Haviland in good girl mode and a cast of stalwarts including Dennis Morgan, George Brent, Charles Coburn, Hattie McDaniel and Billie Burke in support, it is readily watchable. This was one of director John Huston' s earlier films. Within a few years he directed African Queen (why isn't this out on DVD yet?), Asphalt Jungle, Key Largo and many other classic films.

Speaking of classic films by great directors, last night I watched The Edge of the World(1937), a stark, early flim by Michael Powell, a British director whe later created I Know Where I am Going, The Red Shoes, The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Peeping Tom, and The 49th Parallel.
Most of his films really get into location as a theme, a character or as a protagonistic feature. Edge of the World was filmed on a sparsely populated island off of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone but there is little future and commerce, so the young people leave for Scotland as soon as they can to find work. This scenerio splits the young lovers, before he knows that his girlfriend is pregnant. The film depicts life as a grim, cold struggle against the elements, but they live their simple lives in such grand and awesome surroundings (crashing waves against rocky coast land, soaring cliffs that suddenly plunge down to the crashing ocean, rustic stone houses and fences which blend into the landscape) that you watch in amazement---how can they be so lucky as to not appreciate such surroundings. The Edge of the World is fairly short (75min) and in black and white. Also on the dvd is a 23min short Return to the Edge of the World (1978) which has the aging film maker going back to interview some of the locals who appeared in the original film. Very interesting.