What I Watched This Week (w/e April 27th 2008)

DVD

Gas-s-s - With the full title of 'Gas! Or It Became Necessary to Destroy the World in Order to Save It.', this only had the shortened title on the DVD and is obviously influenced by Dr. Strangelove as an apocalyptic satire. Sadly this is where the comparison ends, for this film about a gas that killed everyone over the age of 25 leaving the survivors to form cliques is poor. You have hippies, Hells Angels on golf carts and an armed fascistic football team but although this was probably meant to be an ironic look at society, it isn't. :(

The Trip - Written by Jack Nicholson who, like Roger Corman, had used LSD, this follows Peter Fonda through his LSD trip guided by Bruce Dern who (according to Corman on his commentary) was ironically the only member of the cast and crew who hadn't dropped acid! This doesn't say whether LSD is good or bad, with Fonda experiencing a trip with mixed results, but is a gripping and really enjoyable look into drug use without using it. :)

The Young Racers - This predecessor to John Frankenheimer's Grand Prix is like a cheap version of that Frankenheimer's film: the central relationship is less interesting than the half baked one in the later film and the driving sequence aren't as interesting or involving. :(

The Wild Angels - Peter Fonda plays the leader of a group of Hells Angels who get into trouble with Mexicans and the law, one of the gang is shot and hospitalised, they break him out before he can be transferred to jail and he predictably dies and his funeral turns into a party/fight. This is an interesting look at biker gangs and their attitude towards society, with the speech Fonda gives at the funeral forming the beginning of Primal Scream's song 'Loaded'. :|

Bloody Mama - A dramatisation of Ma Barker and her criminal family features Shelley Winters as the matriarch of the outlaw family, with two played by Bruce Dern and Robert De Niro. Every sadistic and perverted act is referred to and the film carries a real air of menace. :|

A Bucket of Blood - Dick Miller, who played the unfortunate Burson Fouch in The Little Shop of Horrors has similar luck here when, wanting to impress the beatniks at the café where he is a waiter, accidentally falls on the idea of covering corpses in clay and passing them off as statues. This has the same humour and story arc of The Little Shop of Horrors, with our accidental hero hailed as a genius by everyone except his suspicious boss and he meets a poetic ending. :)

Premature Burial - Inspired by the Edgar Allen Poe short story of the same name, this expands the tale to a macabre obsession with being buried alive featuring some excellent set decoration and design of his crypt. :)

X: The Man With The X-Ray Eyes - With surprisingly good visual effects for 1963 and a fine performance from Ray Milland as the brilliant physician who develops a serum that expands the eye's spectrum but doesn't know when to say 'enough'. I imagine this freaked a few people out when it was released. :)

Sunshine - I'd forgotten how good this was - it's a visually stunning film that, as Danny Boyle acknowledges in his commentary, owes a lot to the three giants of the spaceship sub-genre: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alien and Solaris. The crew dynamics are well done and I like the ending, which is something I had misgivings about in the cinema. The commentary by physicist Dr. Brian Cox is interesting and adds a lot to the veracity of the film and how he spent time with Cillian Murphy to prepare him for his role. :)

Taxi Driver: Collector's Edition - A truly great film with probably Robert De Niro's most memorable performance, this is testament to Martin Scorsese's film education with nods to the films of Godard and the classic noirs. Bernard Herrmann's score is a major feature, as is New York City itself and the two disc package has some excellent supplementary material, though Paul Schrader's commentary is a little disappointing. :D

2046 - Wong Kar Wai's follow up to the brilliant In The Mood For Love is an interesting and ambitious sci-fi/romance, but it gets saggy when the film moves into the time travel element with the android on the train and the film isn't as satisfactory or engaging as its predecessor. :|

Zodiac: Director's Cut - I really enjoyed this at the cinema and again on the original DVD release but, though I couldn't tell much difference between this and the theatrical cut, I found this to be an excellent film and probably David Fincher's most accomplished work. Clocking in at over 160 minutes, it's not the adrenaline rush that Fight Club was (and is) and requires patience but is a rewarding watch. The two commentaries kept me busy and I haven't yet started the second disc! :D


The Frightened Woman - Review here.
My Dear Killer - Review here.
The Good Night - Review here.

Cinema

In Bruges - Martin McDonagh shows why he is a highly regarded screenwriter but why he has never directed a feature film: the dialogue is superb, with expletives flowing thick and fast; the characters of Ray and Ken (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) are very well developed, but the pacing is sloppy. It's really enjoyable and Ralph Fiennes is excellent as their boss. :)

Television

Worcester vs. Newcastle - The first of the European Challenge Cup semi finals pitted 11th against 10th and Newcastle's poor run of form under Steve Bates continues and will continue to do so until the forwards can dominate at the breakdown and secure decent first phase ball from the lineout.

Bath vs. Sale - This should have been the final and was a fine game of heads-up rugby - Bath were good value for the win with some very attractive play.

London Irish vs. Toulouse - I thought that Irish would nick this against the injury ravaged French team that could only put one back on the bench. Surprisingly, the kings of the Heineken Cup dominated the best line-out in the Premiership and HC, showing some real flair behind the tackle area and set piece. With a first choice XV and bench, they will be hard to beat.

Saracens vs. Munster - If any team can turn over Toulouse, it's Munster who did just enough to beat a determined Saracens side who have over-achieved this season compared to years of under-achievement. It's a great shame that Richard Hill bowed out in such a way.

F1 Spanish GP - The best race of the season so far with some great racing, safety cars and an almighty crash - I hope HK is alright.