Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by TAFKA Steve (A) on May 25, 2002 at 22:35:58

Here are some of my notes on recent films/DVDs.

“Kikujiro” is the first ‘Beat’ Takeshi Kitano film without a body count: a true family film. A road film similar to “Central Station,” a young boy raised by his grandmother is aided in his travels (to find his mother, and then live with the unfortunate consequences of being an illegitimate child in Japan) by an unlikely middle-aged ruffian, Kikujiro (Kitano). Kikujiro, in turn, also becomes a better person by helping the boy. As in “Sonatine,” there are many amusing scenes of adults engaged in playful activities, and you simply must see Kikujiro’s pathetic attempt at swimming. A funny and touching story.

“In The Mood For Love” has been reviewed by others at Film Asylum, but I want to comment on the extra material on the recent Criterion DVD release. The deleted scenes indicate that Wong Kar-Wai initially intended to incorporate multiple crossing storylines, much like his “Chungking Express”, on the theme of adultery. And it was to cover a broad timeline from the ‘60’s to the ‘90’s. Fortunately, he focussed the story to the bare minimum, concentrating on one couple and how they are affected by their changing relationship and their (unseen) unfaithful spouses, over a shorter period. The bare minimum of scenes also means that several of the outcomes are implied, rather than being shown. Despite the shorter period, this actually has the effect of slowing the film down. Minimal dialogue, almost claustrophobic cinematography and HK settings, beautiful dresses worn by Maggie Cheung, and a lot of Nat King Cole music—-this one is a real work of art.

“Lucky Break” is a British comedy by the makers of “The Full Monty” that continues the theme of men forced into humiliating, embarassing situations. Jimmy (James Nesbitt), a likeable but unsuccessful bank robber/convict cooks up a scheme to escape from prison involving the staging of a prison musical play (‘Adm. Nelson’). The warden, played wonderfully by Christopher Plummer, is a stage-struck romantic being played like a harp by the prisoners. Some hilarity is provided by the amateurish play (think “Waiting For Guffman”), but the film would have been funnier if it had been more realistic. The centerpiece romance of Jimmy and Annabel (the prison’s anger management counselor, played by the lovely Olivia Williams of “Rushmore” fame) is too contrived and their singing in the musical is too professional (they sound better than Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman in “Moulin Rouge”). The real standout is Bill Nighy’s sympathetic portrayal of Roger, Jimmy’s cellmate and a cruel victim of circumstance (Nighy’s acting is spectacular in Mike Leigh’s films). Stick around during the closing credits for some extra scenes. A trifle, but recommended.

“Spiderman” is an enjoyable escapist entertainment, quite faithful to the Marvel comics. But Raimi raises the bar with the ugly, dysfunctional family Thanksgiving dinner scene. What this film has that “SW:AOTC” lacks is sincerity. Sincerity in acting and character interactions with each other, and with settings and situations. “Spiderman” is also the best film about male masturbation in the past decade. Male masturbation?!? Where the hell did TAFKA get that idea? A) His name is Peter. B) He’s a Peeping Tom obsessed with next door neighbor Mary Jane. C) Hairs grow on the tips of his fingers. D) He uses his hands to fling sticky white goo all over the place. I rest my case.

“Attack of the Clones” sucked. I was expecting an epic story of a flawed hero like Achilles from Homer’s Iliad. Instead, we got Homer Simpson. Given the critical position of a second episode setting up episodes 3-6, from this perspective I thought it was even worse than “Phantom Menace.” All we get as new information is that Annakin goes ape-shit when his mother dies (who wouldn’t?), Count Dooku (‘Dookie’ as Green Day or Bush Jr. might say) sets up a false rebellion against the Republic for Palpatine to establish control over the future Empire’s clone army, and Jango Fett (Boba Fett’s dad) is cloned to create the stormtroopers. We already knew that Palpatine would be the Emperor and that the Jedi would be virtually wiped out during the Clone War. So now we know that in Episode 3, Annakin will become Darth Vader and betray the Jedi because he blames them for the death of his wife, Padme. What about the question of who created/fathered Annakin? Remember all those minichlorins or whatever they were called. Palpatine has got to be loaded with ‘em. I’ll bet Palpatine fathered Annakin or had himself cloned. Think of the strategy: Palpatine needed someone as powerful as himself inside the Jedi Order to insure Yoda’s defeat and the Jedis’ destruction. Darth Maul and Dookie are merely fall guys for small potatoes. Palpatine is manipulating the Senate of the Republic to become Emperor and his real ace-in-the-hole is Annakin/himself among the Jedi. Now think of the irony: Palpatine is eventually betrayed by Vader, his own clone, in Episode 6. We have to wait another three years to see this plot line? Phooey!