Category Archives: FilmReview

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Could Be Hard To Watch, Spanish, Violent

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

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From NetFlix:

In this fairy tale for adults, 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) stumbles on a decaying labyrinth guarded by Pan (Doug Jones), an ancient satyr who claims to know her destiny. With a new home, a new stepfather (Sergi Lopez) — a Fascist officer in the pro-Franco army — and a new sibling on the way, nothing is familiar to Ofelia in this multiple Oscar-winning tale set in 1944 Spain from director Guillermo del Toro.

In “1001 Films to See Before You Die”, this film is recommended as probably the best film by Mexican directory Guillermo del Toro. The film has a split personality: half is the suffering and torture due to Ofilia’s stepfather who is a bitter and twisted member of General Franco’s fascist army; the other half is the fantasy world to which Ofilia escapes in order to get away from the ugly realities. So, yes, there is violence and some torture. And also there are some memorable fantastic special effects scenes. Not for children.

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Biographical, Not Feel Good

The Queen (2006)

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From NetFlix:

After Princess Diana’s shocking death, Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren, in an Oscar-winning role) and Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) engage in intimate talks as Britain demands the princess be memorialized in a manner beyond standard protocol. This Oscar-nominated drama for Best Picture goes behind the scenes as the queen and prime minister try to manage Diana’s death on a personal level while also dealing with a public calling for royal treatment for their beloved princess.

Helen Mirren shows her versatility in a role quite different from her other roles. She IS the film. I couldn’t take my eyes off her perfect performance. You might not even care about British royalty and the whole Princess Diana scandal, but this film might start you questioning the royal motives regarding Diana. By the end of the film I felt quite unsympathetic towards the royal family but very enthusiastic about Mirren’s performance. This is a talking heads film, not an action film. It was recommended as one of the “1001 Films To See Before You Die.” (Such a cheery thought !)

1001BeforeDie, 2006, Acceptable Trash, Comedy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Gay theme, Unusual, Vulgar

Borat (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Fans of the HBO comedy series “Da Ali G Show” will be delighted to join one of their favorite characters — the Kazakhstani reporter Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen, in a Golden Globe-winning role) — as he travels to America to report on the “greatest country in the world.” Camera in tow, the boorish journalist sets off on his cross-country road trip, but his original purpose is soon subsumed by a much greater quest — finding and marrying actress Pamela Anderson.

If you think Mel Brooks (think “Blazing Saddles”) was politically incorrect, wait until you watch “Borat” which has the dubious distinction of offending the entire planet. Let’s call this film “acceptable trash” although I admit it is really funny in some parts. At other times I could hardly believe what I was seeing in a film. Today fims show extreme violence as comedy (“Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels”) as well as explicit sex as comedy (“Choke”). So bad taste as comedy has become part of our culture. For another discussion see the Wikipedia Borat article.

Recall that in each scene there is a camera somewhere. Consider, therefore, the “healing” fundamentalist revival service. What was in the minds of the congregation during the filming ? Was this whole thing just a put-on ?

In any case, you are warned that you too might be offended by this film which, believe it or not, is one of the “1001 Films To See Before You Die”.

1001BeforeDie, 2005, Could Be Hard To Watch, Feel Good Not For Children, Redemption, Violent

Crash (2005)

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From NetFlix:

A 36-hour period in the diverse metropolis of post-Sept. 11 Los Angeles is the theme of this unflinching drama that challenges viewers to confront their prejudices. Lives combust when a Brentwood housewife and her D.A. husband, a Persian shopkeeper, two cops, a pair of carjackers and a Korean couple all converge. Director Paul Haggis’s Best Picture Oscar winner stars Sandra Bullock, Brendan Fraser, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon and Jennifer Esposito.

Recommended in “1001 Films to See Before You Die”, this film seems to be the gold-standard for films that offer multiple seemingly independent threads that ultimately come together before the film ends. Sometimes those relations are a bit forced.

Racial predjudice (and whether it can be overcome) is the theme of the film. I have reviews that rave and reviews that rant about how well this theme is treated. At least it is not a boring film. What I remember most is the heroic car scene with Matt Dillon.

1001BeforeDie, 2005, Could Be Sad, Gay theme, Not Feel Good, Western

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

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From NetFlix:

Two sheepherders — Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar (Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger) — meet and fall in love while working together near Wyoming’s Brokeback Mountain in 1963. Over the next 20 years, their lives take different courses: Jack becomes a rodeo cowboy while Ennis remains a ranch hand. Anne Hathaway, Randy Quaid and Michelle Williams co-star. Ang Lee directs screenwriter Larry McMurtry’s adaptation of a short story by E. Annie Proulx.

Whether you have or have not yet seen this film (recommended in “1001 Films to See Before You Die”), I urge you to read the short story by Annie Proulx of the same title. It was a “Best American Short Story” for its year of publication. When I started reading the short story in the “Best” book , I did not know what it was about. By the time I was finished I was stunned. I had never read anything like it. I prefer the short story to the film which really adds nothing. But who would have suspected that 4 years after the film one of its stars, Heath Ledger, would be dead by apparent suicide.

1001BeforeDie, 2004, Comedy, Feel Good Not For Children

Sideways (2004)

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From NetFlix:

Two men go on an excursion and end up inducing midlife crises in this comedy-drama that won six Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Feature and Best Director. Pinot Noir lover Miles (Paul Giamatti) convinces friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) to enjoy his last days of bachelorhood with a wine country road trip. The pair get involved with two women (Sandra Oh and Virginia Madsen) and inevitably come face to face with their past and present.

Just the few really funny sight-gags make the film (recommended by “1001 Films to See Before You Die”) worth watching. For my tastes (no pun intended) there was too much discussion of wine. I spent much of the film rooting for Paul Giamatti and hoping he might find some happiness in his life. I’ll always associate Thomas Haden Church as one of the brothers in the TV series “Wings”. Sandro Oh is well-known from “Grey’s Anatomy”.

1001BeforeDie, 2001, Comedy, Feel Good Not For Children, French

Amelie (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Impish gamine Amélie (Audrey Tautou) lives alone and works in a café. When she finds a trove of toys hidden for 40 years behind a baseboard in her apartment, she’s inspired to repatriate the items, an impulse of generosity that sparks more benevolent acts. A celebration of life, Amélie reminds us of the small wonders that abound around us … if only we paused to look.

In recommending this film, the book “1001 Films To See Before You Die” says this is a sweet Parisian travelog about two hearts finding each other. For me there were some funny sightgags. In fact the review in the book suggests that we really should watch two other films by the writer/director Jean-Pierre Jeunet, namely, “Delicatessen” (about Parisian cannibals) and “The City Of Lost Children” (a mad scientist literally steals children’s dreams).

1000NYTimes, 1001BeforeDie, 2001, Animated, Japanese, Unusual

Spirited Away (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Adapted from the Japanese original, director Hayao Miyazaki’s adventure tale won the Best Animated Feature Oscar for its story of 10-year-old Chihiro (voiced by Rumi Hiragi). During her family’s move to the suburbs, Chihiro wanders into a magical world where a witch rules — and those who disobey her are turned into animals. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro must find a way to help them return to their human form.

This is not your mother’s Walt Disney, far from it! When I first saw this film (recommended by both “1001 Films to See Before You Die” and The “NY Times 1000 Best”), I also was “spirited away”. If you have never seen a Miyazaki animated film, and you are willing to watch an animated film, you have a new experience in store. Imagine a scene of normal-sized characters intruded upon by a GIGANTIC baby that throws destructive temper tantrums. Brace yourself!

1001BeforeDie, 2001, Detective, Explicit sex, Feel Good Not For Children, Redemption

Lantana (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Love, sex and deception rule the day in this psychological drama from director Ray Lawrence. Detective Leon Zat (Anthony LaPaglia) dives headlong into a missing-persons investigation just as he’s grappling with guilt about his extramarital affair. His case crisscrosses the lives of four couples, all of which have secrets — including Leon’s wife, Sonja (Kerry Armstrong), and her secret psychiatrist, Dr. Sommers (Barbara Hershey).

“1001 Films To See Before You Die” points out that this film is very Australian in tone and deed. In fact the actors are Australian. It was the first time we had ever seen Anthony LaPaglia (now appearing in the TV series “Without a Trace”) who is at the center of the film. He was born in Adelaid, South Australia.

The film is a “Crash” film, meaning that many plot threads interweave just as “lantana” is an Australian creeper bush with flowers on top but a mass of sharp, nasty branches underneath.

One detail that I always remember is that LaPaglia has stolen a tape recording of one of his wife’s psychiatry sessions in which the therapist asks her if she loves her husband. He is so guilty about having an affair that he cannot bring himself to listen to the answer. You will have to see the film to hear the answer.

1001BeforeDie, 2001, Musical, Unusual

Moulin Rouge (2001)

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From NetFlix:

Naïve young poet Ewan McGregor falls in love with cabaret star Nicole Kidman, and their ill-fated romance serves as a convenient peg on which to hang a dazzling array of numbers that span musical idioms (from snatches of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music” to Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”). But the real star of the show is director Baz Luhrmann, who came up with this infectious concoction.

You will either love or hate this film which was recommended by “1001 Films to See Before You Die” and won 2 Oscars. At the very least you have to like musicals. If nothing else, you get to see yet another side of the multi-talented Ewan McGregor.