Category Archives: Unusual

2013, Depression, Marital Infidelity, Mental Illness, Nudity, Psychological Drama, Quiet, Sex Scenes, Slow, Strange Ending, Thought provoking, Unusual

Enemy (2013)

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From Netflix:

When humdrum academic Adam Bell spots his double in a rented movie, he launches a search that leads him to a small-time actor who seems uncannily like him in every way — except for his personality.

Ever since first seeing Jake Gyllenhaal in “Donny Darko”, I have always expected the unusual in his films. This semi-crazy film is no exception. Here he plays two parts: a nervous, hesitant history teacher and a womanizing actor. His first persona is so hesitant that the story moves at a very slow pace, including long-held shots where he just stares.

Hang in there, because after awhile the story gets interesting when the two look-alikes start to interact.

So far in my movie viewing life, this film has the most unexpected, crazy, and difficult-to-interpret ending I have ever seen. Please send me your reactions as comments. Just exactly what is going on in this story?

2013, Alcoholism, American Indian culture, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Catholic culture, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sexual discussion, Love Story, Mental Illness, Psychiatrists, Psychological Drama, Quiet, Slow, Talking Heads, True Story, Unusual, War

Jimmy P. (2013)

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From Netflix:

Returning home from World War II, Blackfoot Native American Jimmy Picard suffers from a host of psychosomatic symptoms. In this drama based on a true story, he bonds with psychoanalyst Georges Devereux as the two explore his psyche for causes.

From Wikipedia:

Jimmy P. stars Benicio del Toro as the titular character, Jimmy Picard, a Blackfoot Indian who has returned from war with debilitating symptoms. Mathieu Amalric, who has appeared in most of Arnaud Desplechin’s films, plays George Devereux, a French doctor of Hungarian Jewish background, who specializes in ethnology and psycho analysis. Jimmy P. was shot in Michigan and Montana, and is primarily based on a book by George Devereux , “Reality and dream: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian” (New York: International Univ. Press, 1951). The film is about some of the pioneering days of psychoanalysis.

Because this is basically a psychological talking-heads film, not everyone would find this story interesting. Except for some sad violence involving mentally ill patients, there is no action.

Assumedly Benicio del Toro’s first language might have been Spanish because he was born in Puerto Rico as the son of two Spanish lawyers. In this film he speaks in a slow, well articulated manner that presumably a Blackfoot Indian would use in speaking English. If you read del Toro’s full biography in IMDB, you might discover some films worth watching.

Mathieu Amalric is no great actor, but he delivers a believable performance.

For me seeing Gina McKee as Amalric’s “lover” was a nice surprise. Everytime I see her I remember her performance as Irene Forsyte in the British TV series “The Forsyte Saga”. Probably her portion of this film could have been entirely omitted without affecting the intent of the story.

Language fans will enjoy the discussion of Amerian Indian languages.

Not for everyone, but I was fascinated.

2013, Acceptable Science, Art History, Documentary, Photography, Small gem of a film, True Story, Unusual

Tim’s Vermeer (2013)

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From Netflix:

Teller, of Penn & Teller fame, directs this absorbing film about inventor Tim Jenison’s quest to solve one of art’s greatest mysteries: How did Dutch master Johannes Vermeer paint so photo-realistically 150 years before the invention of photography?

Recently I took a course in photography in which the teacher recommended this film, probably because it involves the use of lenses.

For one hour and twenty minutes you get to accompany Tim Jenison on his unusual and obsessive quest to exactly reproduce Vermeer’s famous painting “The Music Lesson”. Here is a man who never gives up, although at one point he admits that if he were not being filmed then he would probably have quit before he finished.

His thesis is that without some technical aid it would have been impossible for Vermeer to create this masterpiece. In other words, the painting is suspiciously too good to be true. Other artists agree with Jenison. In the process of making his thesis more believable (we will never know for sure because Vermeer left no notes whatsoever), this amazingly talented and capable polymath begins by recreating exactly the very room that appears in the painting, including hand-making the furniture [even if it requires literally slicing an expensive tool in half].

Of course, it helps that this inventor is now financially independent. Nonetheless, his persistence is mind-blowing as we watch him day after day in the reproduction process. Finally he succeeds and weeps in happiness.

While possibly not interesting for everyone, Jenison’s achievement is worth witnessing.

2013, Acceptable Science, Addiction, AIDS, Based on true facts, Crude Talk, Dark, DO NOT MISS, Drugs, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sex, Gambling, Gay theme, Grim, Homophobia, Human spirit, Nudity, Sex Scenes, Transvestite theme, Unusual, Violent

Dallas Buyers Club (2013)

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From Netflix:

Loosely based on true events, this drama follows Ron Woodroof, who refuses to accept he’ll die in 30 days when he’s diagnosed with AIDS in 1986. He extends his life and eventually helps many other AIDS patients by smuggling medications from abroad.

Repulsive! At least that was my first impression of Ron Woodroof who throughout the film is always “in your face”. His unbridled lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, and prostitutes leads to full-blown AIDS. He then spent the rest of his life (which was much longer than the doctors foresaw) smuggling medications from wherever he could. Along the way he eventually accepts as a friend a cross-dressing male prostitute despite the fact that Woodroof is portrayed as virulently homophobic. Also he eventually finds a helper and friend in a woman doctor from the local Dallas hospital.

My criterion for a good actor is one that is a true cameleon, that is to say, can adapt to many different parts. In my opinion, Matthew McConaughey has achieved cameleon-hood. Let’s hope he did not injure his health losing so much weight in order to look like a scrawny AIDS patient.

Be sure to consult the Wikipedia article which at the end contrasts the film plot with the true story.

If you don’t mind a view of America’s low life culture, in view of McConaughey’s performance, I call this a DO NOT MISS!

2013, Italian, Italian culture, Not Recommended, Nudity, Possible a put-on, Possibly artsy fartsy, Possibly depressing, Unusual

The Great Beauty (2013)

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From Netflix:

As charming 65-year-old journalist Jep Gambardella writes about Rome’s culture and social life, he reflects with bitterness on the passions of his lost youth, even as he paints a complex portrait of the lovely and ancient city.

IS THIS FILM A TOTAL PUT-ON ?

If you can believe Wikipedia, this film is much acclaimed and has made a profit from worldwide screening. But then critics a paid to say something.

Supposedly this film is a metaphor about the current decline of Italian civilization, especially in the sad era of Berlusconi.

Kathy and I went expecting to see beautiful Rome and follow the life of an aging Italian journalist. We kept waiting for the good part to start, and waiting and waiting … Instead as far as we can tell we got the following:

  • Conversations that were superficial at best.
  • Social gatherings of strange, ugly, oddly dressed people dancing in circular conga lines that went nowhere.
  • Rather a lot of female strippers.
  • Overly long shots of the aging actor’s face (Toni Servillo as Jep Gambardella).
  • Mother Teresa’s 105 year old twin crawling up a long set of stairs on her hands and knees.
  • Customers of all ages lined up to pay large sums for a BOTOX shot.
  • Impoverished nobles charging money to attend dinners while pretending to be someone important or royal.
  • Some aged cardinal that talked of nothing but cooking recipes.
  • And the list goes on.

Someone should tell the writer and directory Paolo Sorrentino that it is nearly impossible to out-Fellini Fellini.

If anyone out there sees and enjoys this film, please tell me why you enjoyed the film.

At least you have been warned.

2011, Amusing banter, Bank Robbery, Black humor, Clever Plot, Comedy, Complicated, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, Farce, Gangs, Mayhem, Satirical ultra-violence, Unusual

Flypaper (2011)

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From Netflix:

Two gangs unwittingly attempt to rob a bank at the same time, catching innocent Tripp in the middle of the action. He saves bank teller Kaitlin, and together they scheme to stay alive and out of love.

Looking for some laughs sprinkled with quite a bit of obscenity? Looking for a plot that entangles more and more as the film advances? Looking for some clever plot twists and turns? Go no farther — at times “Flypaper” is farce-funny. Most of the humor is due to the crazy characters, either bank employees or the genuine imbeciles trying to rob the bank.

Patrick Dempsey plays Tripp Kennedy, an obsessive compulsive not-so-idiot-savant. He and Ashley Judd are caught in the middle of the mayhem.

You may recognize Jeffrey Tambor as the Bluth family father from “Arrested Development”.

Pruitt Taylor Vince often plays a blathering redneck idiot, this film included. You might recognize him as the heavy-set supervisor from “The Mentalist” whose eyes never stopped circling.

Although it is a funny satire, to understand the complications at the end might be a challenge.

1955, Action Hero, Based on a Book, Crime thriller, Detective, Murder Investigation, Old-Fashioned, Suspense, Terrible acting, Thriller, Unusual, Violent

Kiss Me Deadly (1955)

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From Netflix:

Shortly after sleazy detective Mike Hammer (Ralph Meeker) picks up a scantily clad hitchhiker (Cloris Leachman), his car is forced over a cliff. He awakens from unconsciousness to find his passenger dead — but it wasn’t the fall that killed her. As Hammer sets out to uncover the woman’s deadly secret and find her unknown assassins, he ignores explicit signs that he should mind his own business. This film noir was adapted from Mickey Spillane’s novel.

PBS showed this 106 minute black-and-white film from 1955. You can also get it from Netflix. To think that I was only 15 when this film came out – how films have changed. Nonetheless, despite the old style stiff way of acting (at times seemingly mere line reading), the film is fascinating, if only from a historical perspective.

The Wikipedia article has this to say:

Kiss Me Deadly is a 1955 film noir drama produced and directed by Robert Aldrich starring Ralph Meeker. The screenplay was written by A.I. Bezzerides, based on the Mickey Spillane Mike Hammer mystery novel Kiss Me, Deadly. Kiss Me Deadly is often considered a classic of the noir genre. The film grossed $726,000 in the United States and a total of $226,000 overseas. It also withstood scrutiny from the Kefauver Commission which said it was a film designed to ruin young viewers — leading director Aldrich to write against the Commission’s conclusions.

Kiss Me Deadly marked the film debuts of both actresses Cloris Leachman and Maxine Cooper.[2]

As you approach the surprising end of the film you will understand the comment from the same Wikipedia article:

Critical commentary generally views it as a metaphor for the paranoia and nuclear fears of the Cold War era in which it was filmed.

Ralph Meeker, the lead actor, has a huge resume even though I never heard of him before seeing this (to me) unusual film.

Even the orchestral music seems old-fashioned.

2009, Barely Acceptable Trash, British, Could Be Hard To Watch, Creepy, Disturbing Image, Gangs, Horror, Not Recommended, Occasional gore, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Unusual

Heartless (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Reclusive Londoner Jamie Morgan, who bears a prominent, heart-shaped birthmark on his face yet can’t seem to find love anywhere, makes a deal with a devil-like figure to get a girl — but there’s a deadly price to pay

Never did I ever think I would watch a horror film. However, in a moment of weakness (while doing something else mundane) I allowed myself to stream from Netflix this heartless horror flick. My first inclination was to stop almost immediately until I saw that the famous British actress Ruth Sheen was Jamie’s mother. Also the part of the devil (?) was played by Joseph Mawle (Benjen Stark in “Game of Thrones“. Well, if those known actors can lower themselves to play in a horror flick, who am I to not watch and cringe along?

“Cringe” is possibly a fair choice of words because there is at least one nasty scene (i.e. ripping out someone’s heart – does that count as nasty?) for which you might brace yourself.

Oddly enough this sell-your-soul (better than working for Goldman Sachs?) plot features some good acting. Jim Sturgess (Adam in “Upside Down”) presents a very well played Jamie Morgan.

However, in the final analysis, there is a lot of silliness and gore. If you don’t have a lot of spare time on your hands (or don’t have a bank book to balance) be sure to skip this barely acceptable piece of trash.

Is this a guilty pleasure or what?

2011, Based on a Book, Basically Sad, Dancing, Drama, FilmReview, Love Story, Plot Twist, Quiet, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Slow, Unusual

Trishna (2011)

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From Netflix:

Raised in rapidly changing rural India, well-educated Trishna is torn between cultural tradition and her own desires when she falls in love with a British businessman who has returned to India to work in his family’s hotel business.

According to Wikipedia, this film is an adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s novel “Tess of the d’Urbervilles.” Hopefully that will not spoil the plot for you (although the adaptation is only very approximate).

Not for everyone, this film features:

  • Many different views of life in India, rural and urban.
  • Dancing.
  • Some Bollywood film-making.
  • Details in Indian life that you may or may not find interesting.
  • Slow development of the story.
  • Quite a few (discreet) sex scenes.

Nonetheless, I could not stop watching. Perhaps I see too many violent films, but I kept expecting something awful to happen. Instead, for awhile the plot seems too easy, almost as if the writers were sparing us any stress. But eventually there is an unexpected change in direction and (for me, at least) a surprise ending. In fact, I cheated and did not list all the possible categories because I did not want to introduce any spoilers.

If nothing else, you can spend two hours appreciating the very beautiful female star.

2012, Acceptable for children, Arab Culture, Arabic, Bicycles, Could Be Sad, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Feel Good For All, Human spirit, Optimistic, Religious Theme, Unusual

Wadjda (2012)

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From Netflix:

Persistent 10-year-old Wadjda would like nothing more than a new bicycle so she can beat her friend (a boy) in a race. But it’s going to take some ingenuity to get one — especially in her culture, which sees bikes as a threat to a girl’s virtue.

Because this film is not yet on DVD, and also not available from Netflix, we went to a movie theater. As my hearing gets worse, I am dependent on subtitles. Since this film is in Arabic, there were subtitles.

While re-enforcing my opinions about the sad repression of women under Islam, this film cannot fail to charm even the most skeptical viewer. Spunky Wadjda and her wonderful young friend Abdullah are a pleasure to watch. Abdullah is so thoughtful of his rebellious sidekick that you wonder where in his male-dominated society he learned to care.

“Just tell the story” and the points will come across. Indeed, you will see religious fundamentalism revealed as also hypocrisy. You will see that although Wadjda’s father loves her and her mother, he is under societal pressure to produce a male heir. You will see Saudi natives able to bully possibly non-legal immigrants. And above all you will see a somewhat crushing regimen forced upon the women in a seemingly bleak country.

For a down-to-earth possibly sad but also spirited story, DO NOT MISS!